a satisfactory grade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a satisfactory grade" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing academic performance, indicating that the grade received meets the minimum acceptable standard. Example: "After studying hard for the exam, I was relieved to receive a satisfactory grade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

While you may be able to cram for a high school midterm a week in advance and still achieve a satisfactory grade, it is unlikely you will get the SAT score you want if you aren't able to set aside dedicated time to your prep regimen.

The New York Times

In the case of ATM and other types of packet multiservice networks, traffic engineering requires resource allocation and performance optimization at the cell or packet level in order to assure a satisfactory grade of service (GoS) at the call level to the users.

Computers & Operations Research

Citing a 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers report card on U.S. infrastructure, Langford said that a D+ was not a satisfactory grade for the world's wealthiest nation.

Huffington Post

This percentage has remained low compared to the simulation results, but this ratio provides a satisfactory grade for the use of our proposed system in real life.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Eyes with vision better than 20/60 at the glasses appointment (6 weeks) were defined as having a satisfactory grade of vision.

BMJ Open

The mean VPW and CTR were determined for each individual radiograph by averaging the measurements from all the readers who gave a satisfactory grade to position and technique for that radiograph.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

For patients that were available for clinical follow-up examination, the plaque index showed that 86.6% of implants had a satisfactory degree of oral hygiene (grades 0 and 1).

International Journal of Implant Dentistry

A bit of doubt was thrown into what the Blix report would say after a spokesman for Mr. ElBaradei said in Vienna that Mr. Hussein would get a "quite satisfactory" grade for cooperating with nuclear inspectors.

The New York Times

My last attempt yielded a satisfactory score for entry, however due to my lower grade point average, I was not offered an interview.

The Guardian - Money

The fuzzy goal attainment approach is able to address goal trade-offs and yield an overall satisfactory grade for the problem.

Chemical Engineering Journal

Am I? Am I still creating at a satisfactory level?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a satisfactory grade" when you want to convey that the grade meets the minimum requirements or expectations, but doesn't necessarily indicate excellence. It's useful in contexts where merely passing is sufficient.

Common error

Avoid using "satisfactory" when you want to emphasize high achievement or excellence. In those cases, opt for stronger terms like "excellent", "outstanding", or "exceptional" to reflect the higher level of performance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a satisfactory grade" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "satisfactory" modifies the noun "grade". As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase commonly describes an academic achievement that meets a minimum acceptable standard.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a satisfactory grade" is a noun phrase indicating that an achieved grade meets a minimum acceptable standard, but does not necessarily signify excellence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts. It is most commonly found in News & Media and Scientific sources, with a neutral formality level. While it suggests an acceptable outcome, stronger terms should be used to convey higher levels of achievement. Related phrases include "an acceptable grade" and "a passing grade". To enhance writing, consider the context and aim for more descriptive terms when excellence is implied.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an acceptable grade

Indicates a level that meets the minimum requirements, without necessarily implying excellence.

a passing grade

Specifically refers to achieving the minimum score needed to pass a course or assessment.

a sufficient grade

Highlights the adequacy of the grade in meeting a particular need or requirement.

an adequate grade

Implies the grade is just good enough, without being exceptional.

a decent grade

Suggests a grade that is respectable and of reasonable quality.

a commendable grade

Indicates the grade is worthy of praise or approval.

a respectable grade

Implies the grade is worthy of respect and is considered to be of good quality.

a tolerable grade

Suggests the grade is barely acceptable, but not ideal.

a fair grade

Indicates a grade that is average or unbiased.

a moderate grade

Highlights the grade is neither high nor low, but falls within a middle range.

FAQs

What does "a satisfactory grade" mean?

The phrase "a satisfactory grade" means that the grade received is acceptable or meets the minimum requirements. It indicates that the student has achieved a passing or adequate level of performance.

How to use "a satisfactory grade" in a sentence?

You can use "a satisfactory grade" in a sentence like this: "Although I didn't excel, I received "a satisfactory grade" on the exam."

What can I say instead of "a satisfactory grade"?

You can use alternatives like "an acceptable grade", "a passing grade", or "a sufficient grade" depending on the context.

Is it better to aim for "a satisfactory grade" or an excellent grade?

While "a satisfactory grade" indicates the minimum requirements are met, aiming for an excellent grade demonstrates a deeper understanding and mastery of the subject matter, which can open more opportunities.