Just about acceptable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Just about acceptable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is nearly acceptable but may not fully meet the standards or expectations. Example: "The quality of the report was just about acceptable, but it could use some improvements before submission."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Gogglebox on a Friday is just about acceptable.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Just about acceptable if you are here on a romantic getaway.

The Guardian - Travel

A day's battery is just about acceptable, but rivals have shown two days-plus is easily possible.

The Guardian - Tech

Peas and broccoli are just about acceptable, but tomatoes and any leaves are unceremoniously sent straight back to the kitchen.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That was just about acceptable when a website was simply a box to tick on the promotional round.

The Guardian - Music

A market economy might be just about acceptable to the party, but an American market society, however defined, is not.To Western ears, some of this sounds worrying.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

It creates a just-about acceptable pasta sauce, but it misses the point and magic of the real thing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It is generally considered bad luck to toast someone with a soft drink, but in the case of legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, who has died at the age of 87, it might just about be acceptable.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

These results show that for all three behaviors, using three semesters of data provides just about an acceptable level of.80 to establish reliability and hence generalizations can be made.

Advances in Health Sciences Education

And it lives on today in the just-about-still-politically-acceptable remarks of the likes of Godfrey Bloom, a UKIP MEP whose views on aid I recently debated on the radio.

The Guardian

Nass realized that Clippy broke just about every norm of acceptable social behavior.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Just about acceptable" to convey a sense of minimal approval or satisfaction. It's ideal when you want to acknowledge something meets the basic requirements, but doesn't exceed them.

Common error

Avoid using "Just about acceptable" when something is genuinely impressive or high-quality. The phrase downplays the positive aspects and can be misleading if the subject is truly exceptional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just about acceptable" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something meets the minimum requirements or standards. It conveys a sense of minimal approval, as supported by Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Lifestyle

20%

Tech

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "just about acceptable" is a common phrase used to describe something that marginally meets the required standards. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for various contexts, primarily in news and media. When writing, use it to express minimal approval and avoid using it when describing truly exceptional subjects. Consider alternatives like "barely acceptable" or "marginally acceptable" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Barely acceptable

Emphasizes the minimal level of acceptability, suggesting it barely meets the required standard.

Marginally acceptable

Highlights the slight margin by which something meets the criteria for acceptability.

Scarcely acceptable

Indicates that something is acceptable, but only with difficulty or hesitation.

Just tolerable

Highlights the slight nature of the tolerability, it's acceptable, but not much more.

Passable

Suggests something is acceptable enough to pass or be tolerated, though not ideal.

Remotely acceptable

Suggests something is acceptable only in a distant or unlikely sense.

Tolerable

Implies acceptance because something is endurable, though possibly unpleasant or undesirable.

Sufficient

Focuses on adequacy, meaning it meets the minimum requirements but isn't exceptional.

Adequate

Similar to sufficient, stressing that it's good enough for a specific purpose or need.

Within reason

Suggests acceptance as long as certain limits or conditions are met.

FAQs

How can I use "Just about acceptable" in a sentence?

You can use "Just about acceptable" to describe something that barely meets the minimum requirements or standards, such as "The quality of the work was "just about acceptable", but improvements are needed".

What phrases are similar to "Just about acceptable"?

Alternatives include "barely acceptable", "marginally acceptable", or "passable", all suggesting a minimal level of adequacy.

Is "Just about acceptable" formal or informal?

"Just about acceptable" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the specific situation.

What's the difference between "Just about acceptable" and "Acceptable"?

"Just about acceptable" implies a lower standard compared to "acceptable". "Acceptable" suggests something meets the requirements adequately, while "just about acceptable" suggests it barely meets them.