a decent indication of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a decent indication of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that provides a reasonable or satisfactory sign or signal about a particular situation or outcome. Example: "The survey results are a decent indication of customer satisfaction with our new product."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

That The New York Post featured Mr. Bloomberg's face this week like a missing person on a milk carton gives a decent indication of where his stealth strategy leads.

The New York Times

If you don't have a thermometer, you can test the consistency of the knäck – and thereby see if it's cooked to your liking – by spooning a drop of hot toffee into a cup of cold water: after a few seconds, when it has cooled, you will have a decent indication of the knäck's final texture.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The way Cardiff cope with a tough looking opening group of fixtures may give us a decent indication of how much that pressure will build.

BBC

It's a decent indication of if the person is someone you actually would want to follow back, rather than making you click through to the site to get that information.

TechCrunch

The way Cardiff cope with a tough looking opening group of fixtures may give us a decent indication of how much that pressure will build". Former Wales and Fulham centre-back Symons initially combined the role with being Cottagers boss, but was told he had to concentrate fully on his club commitments.

BBC

This test was a decent indication of the effectiveness of the combination method.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The on-the-nose title of the film gives a decent indication as to the simplicity of the work.

Vice

No. Do we have a decent indication that excess sugar is at least a contributing factor to depression in a percentage of the population?

Forbes

A decent indicator of talent?

Huffington Post

The SCID-II is administered by trained interviewers and generally yields decent indications of the personality disorder spectrum.

BMC Psychiatry

If Amelia (wife of Hays, Carmen Ejogo) quoting Einstein is any indication, there's still a decent bit of self-serious philosophical mumbo jumbo to go around.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a decent indication of", ensure that the 'indication' you are referring to is reasonably reliable and relevant to the subject matter. Avoid using it for weak or unsubstantiated claims.

Common error

Avoid presenting something as "a decent indication of" when it's merely speculative or based on insufficient evidence. This can mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a decent indication of" functions as a noun phrase that serves to qualify something as providing a reasonable or satisfactory level of signal or evidence. Ludwig AI confirms this, as the phrase is used across various sources to suggest a noticeable but not necessarily conclusive sign.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a decent indication of" serves as a qualifier, suggesting a reasonable or satisfactory level of signal or evidence. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of the phrase, which is most commonly found in news and scientific contexts. While it's not the most frequent phrase, it's a valuable tool for conveying a moderate level of certainty or suggestion. When employing this phrase, ensure the 'indication' is reasonably reliable and avoid overstating its strength. Consider alternatives like "a good indicator of" or "a reasonable sign of" depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a good indicator of

Replaces 'decent' with 'good', suggesting a slightly stronger sign.

a reasonable sign of

Substitutes 'indication' with 'sign', focusing on the signal aspect.

a fair measure of

Uses 'measure' instead of 'indication', highlighting an assessment aspect.

a solid clue to

Replaces 'indication' with 'clue', implying a hint towards something.

a reliable gauge of

Substitutes 'indication' with 'gauge', suggesting a tool for assessment.

a suggestive hint of

Uses 'hint' instead of 'indication', softening the strength of the signal.

a telling sign regarding

Replaces 'decent' with 'telling' and adds 'regarding', emphasizing importance.

an acceptable reflection of

Replaces 'indication' with 'reflection', referring to a representation.

a plausible forecast for

Substitutes 'indication' with 'forecast', implying a prediction.

a rough estimate concerning

Uses 'estimate' instead of 'indication', highlighting an approximate value.

FAQs

How can I use "a decent indication of" in a sentence?

You can use "a decent indication of" to suggest that something provides a reasonable or satisfactory sign or signal. For example, "The early sales figures are "a decent indication of" the product's potential success".

What phrases are similar to "a decent indication of"?

Similar phrases include "a good indicator of", "a reasonable sign of", or "a fair measure of", all suggesting something provides a noticeable signal or measurement.

Is it better to use "a decent indication of" or "a strong indication of"?

The choice depends on the context. "A decent indication of" implies a moderate level of certainty, while "a strong indication of" suggests a higher degree of confidence. Choose the phrase that best reflects the strength of the evidence.

What's the difference between "a decent indication of" and "a potential indicator of"?

"A decent indication of" suggests that there is already a discernible signal, whereas "a potential indicator of" implies that something could become a signal or sign in the future, but is not definitively one yet.