Sounds acceptable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Sounds acceptable" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to express agreement or approval of a suggestion or proposal. Example: "Your plan for the project sounds acceptable to me." Alternative expressions include "Seems fine" and "Looks good."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It might also increase the incentive for parties to appeal to the extremes rather than to the middle.To some, that sounds acceptable enough: a touch of extremism, after all, is just one of the prices we pay for democracy.

The Economist

Sure it's not the most high quality speaker you can find, but it sounds acceptable considering it's stuck inside such a small device.

TechCrunch

An "old brown dog" sounds fine, a "little old brown dog" sounds acceptable, but a "mischievous little old brown dog" sounds plain wrong.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

While having an uncertified person diving through a tunnel at 45 feet with a dive master may sound acceptable to a nondiver, I know that it was potentially very dangerous.

The New York Times - Travel

His lengthy voicemail greeting sounded acceptable through CallingAmerica — about as good as any other VoIP call I've made.

TechCrunch

Next we define the (macroscopic) velocity of such a trajectory as which sounds perfectly acceptable.

SEP

"It's just illusory to think that presidents can provide a narrative that can make unemployment sound acceptable," said George C. Edwards, a professor of political science at Texas A & M University and author of "On Deaf Ears: The Limits of the Bully Pulpit".

The New York Times

In the Goethe poem on which Brahms's work is based, an embittered soul wanders the desert, eliciting a prayer for his redemption: "If there is on your psaltery, O father of Love, one sound acceptable to his ear, refresh his heart with it".

The New Yorker

MP3s sound acceptable at lower volumes, but cat-scaringly awful when you pump up the jam.

BBC

While some of these sound acceptable, none of these tell you which bank is in which market place for the exact type of loan at any given time.

Huffington Post

Raters are thus continuously challenged to sample performance data; interpret findings; identify and define assessment criteria; and translate private judgments into sound (acceptable) decisions.

Advances in Health Sciences Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sounds acceptable" when you want to express agreement or indicate that something meets a basic requirement without necessarily expressing strong enthusiasm.

Common error

Avoid using "sounds acceptable" in highly formal or critical situations where a more decisive and affirmative response is expected. Consider using more emphatic expressions of agreement or approval such as "is excellent" or "is approved".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sounds acceptable" functions as an adjective phrase, typically used to express agreement or indicate that something meets a basic requirement. Ludwig AI confirms this usage by providing examples where it's used in similar contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sounds acceptable" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase used to express agreement or adequacy. Ludwig AI validates its common use across news, science, and academic contexts, although it is considered uncommon overall. While it's suitable for general communication, it might lack the decisiveness required in formal settings. Alternatives such as "seems reasonable" or "appears satisfactory" may be more appropriate depending on the desired level of formality and the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems fine to me

Indicates a lack of objections and personal acceptance.

seems reasonable

Focuses more on the logical aspect of the proposal.

that's agreeable

Formal way of expressing consent or agreement.

appears satisfactory

More formal and emphasizes the fulfillment of requirements.

seems plausible

Focuses on the believability and feasibility of the proposal.

that works for me

Highlights personal agreement and convenience.

that seems fair

Indicates agreement based on the perceived fairness of the proposal.

that's all right

Expresses mild agreement or acceptance.

seems in order

Suggests that the proposal aligns with established procedures.

appears adequate

Indicates that the proposal meets the minimum requirements.

FAQs

How can I use "sounds acceptable" in a sentence?

You can use "sounds acceptable" to express that a proposal or suggestion is adequate or satisfactory. For example, "Your plan for the marketing campaign "sounds acceptable" to me".

What are some alternatives to "sounds acceptable"?

Alternatives include "seems reasonable", "appears satisfactory", or "seems fine to me", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "sounds acceptable"?

It's appropriate when you want to convey that something is adequate or meets the minimum requirements, without necessarily expressing strong enthusiasm or approval. Use it in situations where a neutral or mildly positive response is suitable.

Is "sounds acceptable" formal or informal?

"Sounds acceptable" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both informal and semi-formal contexts. However, it might not be suitable for highly formal or critical situations where more decisive language is required.