a very good material

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a very good material" is not entirely correct in standard written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific type of material, but it would be more appropriate to say "very good materials" or "a very good material for [specific use]." Example: "This fabric is a very good material for making summer clothes due to its breathability."

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

These results show that plasticized HEC is a very good material to be used for the preparation of new solid polymeric electrolytes.

Electrochimica Acta

Our results, combined with those of Tisserand et al (2003) obtained on cell lines and on breast cancer cells, show that Thinprep® LBC provides a very good material for molecular analysis, and that it could be considered as a technical standard for cytology-based molecular studies.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It was all very good material, so instead of throwing it away, we rewrote it as two hours and were able to shoot the additional footage in 2 1/2 days," Berk said.

Los Angeles Times

I shouldn't be saying this, but talking from a cartoonist point of view, she was very, very good material.

BBC

"There are some very, very talented actors and directors working on some very good material, and I think there's probably a larger cross-section of audience than people might have imagined existed for plays in New York".

The Guardian

"He is very good material," says Griffiths who is known for using found objects, among which Murray could be counted.

The Guardian - Film

People get caught up with new things so they forget about the very good material that we had".

BBC

James Gunn, a historian of science fiction, regarded the magazine as the best of the fantasy magazines launched in the early 1950s, and science fiction encyclopedist Donald H. Tuck contended it printed very good material.

Wikipedia

According to science-fiction historian Donald H. Tuck, Beyond published "some very good material," with appearances by many well-known authors, and the magazine is often cited as being the successor to the unusual fantasy tradition of Unknown.

Wikipedia

The Internet… gives me very good material.

BMC Family Practice

Bricks are very good material.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a material's suitability for a task, follow "a very good material" with "for" and specify the application. For example, "This fabric is a very good material for summer clothing."

Common error

Avoid using "a very good material" as a standalone statement. Always provide context to clarify what makes it 'very good' and for what purpose it is suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a very good material" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or an appositive. It identifies and characterizes a particular substance or component, assigning it a positive attribute of suitability or quality.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a very good material" is an acceptably descriptive phrase indicating the suitability and quality of a substance. While grammatically sound, it benefits from contextual clarity by specifying the application or features that make it 'very good'. Ludwig examples show diverse applications across scientific, news, and general informational contexts. Consider stronger adjectives or more specific descriptions depending on your desired level of formality and the specific features you intend to highlight. As Ludwig AI explains, while commonly used, it may sometimes be improved by more descriptive alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an excellent substance

Replaces "good" with a stronger adjective, emphasizing superior quality.

a high-quality element

Focuses on the superior grade and standard of the material.

a superior ingredient

Highlights the material's role as a key component contributing to overall quality.

a prime component

Emphasizes the material's importance and top-tier status.

a choice medium

Suggests that the material is deliberately selected for its specific properties and benefits.

a premium article

Highlights the material's high value and exceptional characteristics.

a select component

Implies careful selection and specialized use of the material.

a top-notch constituent

Uses informal language to express high quality.

a first-rate stuff

Uses informal language to express high quality.

an ideal raw material

Emphasizes the material's perfect suitability for a particular application.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "a very good material"?

You can use alternatives such as "an excellent substance", "a high-quality element", or "a superior ingredient" depending on the context.

How can I use "a very good material" in a sentence?

Use "a very good material" to describe something suitable for a specific purpose. For example: "This plastic is a very good material for making toys because it is durable and non-toxic."

Which is more formal, "a very good material" or "an excellent substance"?

"An excellent substance" generally sounds more formal than "a very good material" and may be more appropriate for academic or professional writing.

Is "a very good material" always the best way to describe something?

Not necessarily. Sometimes, more specific language is better. Instead of "a very good material", consider mentioning specific qualities like "durable", "flexible", or "heat-resistant" depending on what's relevant.