Averagely decent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Averagely decent" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It can be used to describe something that is moderately acceptable or satisfactory, but it may not convey a strong or clear meaning. Example: "The restaurant was averagely decent, offering a few good dishes but nothing exceptional."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Arvind Sanger, an analyst at Donaldson , Lufkin & Jenrettesaid Mr. Cheney did "an averagely decent job as C.E.O.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It is Trevor's great tact never to fit the boy out with any Iago-like credo: wickedness is seen as natural however deplorable, and the rest of us, whether decent or just averagely unpleasant, as helpless victims of Timothy's and the world's depredations.

The Guardian - Books

A quick glance back at X Factor audition tapes proves it: at their core, the One Direction boys are average: averagely charming, averagely beautiful and averagely talented, elevated above their utterly usual beginnings by forces outside of their control.

Independent

It is averagely compelling (I finished it), involves an average amount of concentration and, if such a thing makes sense, is averagely well written: excellent in its averageness!

The New York Times - Books

Decent conversationalist.

The New Yorker

Be decent.

The New York Times

Decent odds.

The New Yorker

The various little-known PAN possibilities polled averagely.

The Economist

Anyone buying an "averagely priced" home worth £275,000 would pay £4,500 less in tax.

The Guardian

"What you actually provided was something that looked like an averagely managed summer car boot sale.

The Guardian

We're decent people with decent values.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "averagely decent", consider whether a more precise adjective might better convey your intended meaning. While grammatically correct, it may lack impact compared to alternatives like "moderately good" or "reasonably acceptable."

Common error

Avoid using "averagely decent" in formal writing. It can sound informal or even slightly dismissive. Opt for more professional alternatives such as "satisfactory", "acceptable", or "adequate".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "averagely decent" functions as a descriptive expression, modifying a noun by indicating its quality or performance is at a moderate or acceptable level. As Ludwig AI points out, its usage can be considered acceptable, describing something that is neither exceptional nor poor.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "averagely decent" is used to describe something as moderately acceptable, neither particularly good nor notably bad. While grammatically sound, it is considered a rare expression and may sound somewhat awkward in formal writing. As Ludwig AI mentions, the usage of "averagely decent" is most commonly found in News & Media contexts, used to provide a neutral or balanced assessment. For more formal or impactful writing, consider alternatives such as "moderately acceptable" or "reasonably good".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Moderately acceptable

Replaces "averagely" with "moderately", focusing on the level of acceptance.

Reasonably good

Uses "reasonably" to indicate a satisfactory level of goodness, rather than a middling level.

Passably adequate

Emphasizes the barely sufficient quality, using "passably" instead of "averagely".

Somewhat satisfactory

Highlights the degree of satisfaction, using "somewhat" to show a partial fulfillment of expectations.

Sufficiently adequate

Emphasizes that it meets the basic requirements

Acceptably mediocre

Emphasizes the mediocrity of the subject, using "acceptably" to show it's within acceptable bounds.

Slightly above average

Moves the meaning from average to slightly above, but still keeps a similar meaning.

Fairly respectable

Indicates a level of respectability that is average

Kind of okay

An informal way of saying that the subject is barely acceptable.

Barely satisfactory

Stresses how low the quality is, but still acceptable.

FAQs

What does "averagely decent" mean?

The phrase "averagely decent" describes something that is moderately acceptable or satisfactory. It suggests that something is neither particularly good nor bad, but somewhere in the middle.

Is "averagely decent" grammatically correct?

Yes, "averagely decent" is grammatically correct, although it may sound somewhat awkward or uncommon to some native English speakers.

What can I say instead of "averagely decent"?

You can use alternatives like "moderately acceptable", "reasonably good", or "passably adequate" depending on the context.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "averagely decent"?

"Averagely decent" is generally suitable for informal contexts. In formal writing, consider using alternatives with a stronger or clearer meaning.