a terrific candidate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a terrific candidate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing someone who is highly qualified or suitable for a position or role. Example: "After reviewing all the applications, we believe that Sarah is a terrific candidate for the marketing manager position."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

We've got a terrific candidate, Abbott says.

The Guardian

Obama returns the compliment: McCaskill, he told me, "is a terrific candidate who is deeply rooted in Missouri and understands the people of Missouri".

The New Yorker

Mr. Obama's communications director, Robert Gibbs, said hours later that Mr. Obama had called her and told her "she would be a terrific candidate".

The New York Times

Mr. Cuomo said he called Mr. Gore after the vote, saying that he should not lose heart, "I think you'll make a terrific candidate some day," Mr. Cuomo recalled telling Mr. Gore.

The New York Times

Are you a terrific candidate?

Science Magazine

"She's a terrific candidate and she's going to be a great U.S. senator".

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

If Hillary were a man -- for example, a terrific populist candidate like John Edwards -- she would have been long gone.

Huffington Post

As Governor David Paterson mulls a list of terrific candidates to fill Hillary Clinton's soon-to-be vacant Senate seat, near or at the top of that list should be Caroline Kennedy.

Huffington Post

"They've both become much more presidential in the course of the campaign, and I think they're both terrific candidates now," said Rennie James, a business consultant who said he was likely to vote for Mr. Edwards.

The New York Times

Best Actor Five terrific candidates, but is this getting monotonous?—Leonardo DiCaprio gives a performance in "The Wolf of Wall Street" that will deservedly endure in the history of cinema, and this fact bears no relation to his Oscar chances.

The New Yorker

Some terrific candidates were excluded solely because they didn't have a new piece of fiction available by our deadline.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a terrific candidate" when you want to express strong approval of someone's suitability for a role. However, consider your audience; it's usually more appropriate in neutral and informal contexts. In formal contexts, consider "an excellent candidate" or "a highly qualified candidate".

Common error

Avoid stacking too many positive adjectives before "candidate", as this can sound excessive or insincere. For example, "an absolutely terrific, amazing candidate" is usually overkill. Simpler is better.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a terrific candidate" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "terrific" modifies the noun "candidate". Ludwig AI affirms its correctness, indicating that it clearly communicates positive assessment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a terrific candidate" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable phrase employed to convey strong endorsement of an individual's appropriateness for a role. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. While mainly found in News & Media and Science contexts, with more formal alternatives available for professional writing, its function is to positively describe and recommend. When aiming for impact without sounding excessive, "a terrific candidate" is a solid option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an excellent candidate

Replaces "terrific" with a more standard synonym for high quality.

a strong candidate

Focuses on the candidate's capabilities and potential for success.

an outstanding candidate

Emphasizes the candidate's exceptional qualities.

a superb candidate

Uses a slightly more formal synonym for "terrific".

a remarkable candidate

Highlights the candidate's noteworthy or unusual attributes.

an exceptional candidate

Similar to "outstanding" but may imply more unusual skill.

a first-rate candidate

Uses a more figurative way to say the candidate is very good.

a top-notch candidate

Uses informal language to indicate high quality.

a highly qualified candidate

Specifically emphasizes the candidate's qualifications.

an impressive candidate

Highlights that the candidate makes a good impression.

FAQs

How can I use "a terrific candidate" in a sentence?

You can use "a terrific candidate" to describe someone who is highly suitable for a position. For example, "After interviewing several people, we believe John is "a terrific candidate" for the job."

What are some alternatives to saying "a terrific candidate"?

Instead of "a terrific candidate", you could say "an excellent candidate", "a strong candidate", or "an outstanding candidate", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "terrific" too informal for professional writing?

While "terrific" is generally understood, it might be perceived as slightly informal in very formal or academic writing. In such cases, consider using more formal alternatives like "an exceptional candidate" or "a highly qualified candidate".

What does it mean when someone is described as "a terrific candidate"?

It means they are considered to be exceptionally well-suited and qualified for a particular role or opportunity, possessing a combination of skills, experience, and qualities that make them a very promising choice.