Up to par

USAGE SUMMARY

"up to par" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that something meets a certain standard or expectation. Example: "The team's performance was not up to par this season." Alternative expressions include "up to standard," "meeting expectations," and "satisfactory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Credit score not up to par?

The Washington Post

And it's still not up to par.

The Washington Post

Anyway, their wines weren't up to par.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Bradley's style is pretty up to par," he said.

The New York Times

"As long as the learning is up to par".

The New York Times

I didn't really think it was up to par").

The New York Times

"His footwork has always been up to par," Cruz said.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's being hollowed out and not performing up to par".

The New York Times

So his performance was not up to par?

The New Yorker

We just hadn't been playing up to par.

The New York Times - Sports

"I don't feel up to par right now," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "up to par" when you want to indicate that something meets the expected or usual standards. It's suitable for describing performance, quality, or condition.

Common error

Avoid using "up to par" when you actually mean 'exceptional' or 'outstanding'. "Up to par" implies meeting the standard, not exceeding it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up to par" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate that something is at the expected level or standard. As shown in Ludwig's examples, it describes the quality or condition of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "up to par" is a widely used and grammatically correct adverbial phrase that signifies something meets the expected standard or level. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Science, and Academic domains. While synonyms like "satisfactory" or "adequate" exist, "up to par" specifically implies adherence to a norm or expectation. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the intended meaning of meeting, not exceeding, standards.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Up to standard

Directly relates to meeting a defined standard or expectation.

Meeting expectations

Emphasizes that something is performing as anticipated.

At the expected level

Focuses on achieving a specific level of performance.

Of the required quality

Highlights the quality aspect of meeting expectations.

Satisfactory

Implies that something meets the minimum requirements or expectations.

Within acceptable limits

Indicates that something falls within the boundaries of what is considered acceptable.

Acceptable

Similar to satisfactory, suggesting that something is good enough.

Adequate

A more general term indicating sufficiency but not necessarily excellence.

Good enough

A more informal way of saying something is satisfactory.

Passable

Suggests that something barely meets the requirements.

FAQs

What does "up to par" mean?

The phrase "up to par" means meeting the required or expected standard or level. It implies that something is satisfactory or adequate.

How can I use "up to par" in a sentence?

You can use "up to par" to describe performance, quality, or condition. For example: "The team's performance wasn't "up to par" this season", or "The repairs brought the equipment back "up to par"".

What are some alternatives to saying "up to par"?

Alternatives to "up to par" include "up to standard", "meeting expectations", "satisfactory", and "adequate".

Is "up to par" formal or informal?

"Up to par" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the surrounding language and the specific situation.