a quite decent

USAGE SUMMARY

“a quite decent” is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something as being good or satisfactory, although not great. For example, “The food at the party was a quite decent.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

At the Met on Thursday he was better still, a quite decent Siegfried, which is a real achievement.

The New York Times - Arts

With a subtle smokiness, it would have made a quite decent light lunch by itself for £5.75.

Independent

AN excruciatingly slow elevator ride took me up to my corner room, 1203, which measured a quite decent size, about 14 by 10 feet, and had two windows.

The New York Times - Travel

"We went into it behind the eight-ball and in any game of cricket 100 behind is a quite decent margin.

The Guardian - Sport

Vanilla ice cream This is another food that contains too much refined sugar, although these occasional indulgences do not detract too much from what is, I think, a quite decent diet.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This city would have a cafe "with a quite decent blancmange" where, if the poet should ask his colleague why we need the 20th century when we already have the 19th, "my colleague would stare fixedly at his fork or his knife".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

It's rustic, but great, and one of the few dishes that goes with a red wine, such as a really quite decent Grenache blend from San Diego County.

Los Angeles Times

By simply sitting in what I assume must be a very hot, brightly lit studio and shaking one's head back and forth, the system gets enough data to put together a really quite decent reproduction of one's head of hair.

TechCrunch

All the stuff about the father of Tess/Trishna and his delusions of family grandeur is jettisoned in favour of a fast, fluid introduction that actually centres on Jay: rich, a little conceited, but quite decent and high-minded.

The Guardian - Film

The food is quite decent, in a middle-of-the-road, easy-listening sort of way.

The New York Times - Food

"A lot of them were quite decent.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a quite decent" to describe something that is good enough or satisfactory, but not exceptional. It's best suited for everyday situations where you want to express a moderate level of approval.

Common error

While "a quite decent" is perfectly acceptable in informal contexts, avoid using it in formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and sophisticated vocabulary to convey your assessment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a quite decent" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe its quality. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is correct and can be used to express a moderate level of approval.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a quite decent" is a grammatically sound and usable expression for conveying moderate approval. As Ludwig confirms, this adjectival phrase functions to describe something as being good enough, though not exceptional. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts and maintains a neutral register. When aiming for more formal language, consider stronger or more precise alternatives. Remember, "a quite decent" is your go-to when 'good enough' is just the right assessment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a reasonably good

Suggests a slightly more moderate level of goodness compared to "a quite decent".

a fairly satisfactory

Emphasizes the satisfaction derived, making it suitable when the outcome meets expectations.

an adequately acceptable

Highlights bare minimum requirements are met, implying less enthusiasm than "a quite decent".

a passably fine

Implies something is acceptable but not outstanding, a more subdued assessment.

a respectably adequate

Adds a layer of respect, suitable when acknowledging effort or meeting standards.

a substantially sufficient

Indicates a level of sufficiency that is considerable, often used in more formal contexts.

a tolerably all right

Suggests acceptance with some reservations, making it a weaker endorsement.

an acceptably average

Highlights something is neither exceptional nor poor, focusing on its ordinariness.

a comparatively suitable

Emphasizes the suitability in relation to other options, implying it may not be perfect but is the best available.

a relatively sound

Indicates a degree of reliability or stability, making it appropriate when discussing judgments or outcomes.

FAQs

What does "a quite decent" mean?

The phrase "a quite decent" means something is good enough or satisfactory, though not outstanding or exceptional. It implies a moderate level of approval.

What can I say instead of "a quite decent"?

You can use alternatives like "a reasonably good", "a fairly satisfactory", or "an adequately acceptable" depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "a quite decent" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a quite decent" is more suitable for informal conversation or writing. In formal contexts, consider using more precise or sophisticated language.

How does "a quite decent" differ from "a very good"?

"A quite decent" suggests a lower level of quality than "a very good". The former indicates something is acceptable, while the latter implies a higher degree of excellence.