are only as good as

USAGE SUMMARY

"are only as good as" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is a comparative phrase that is used to suggest that something is of the same quality or value as something else. Example: "A team is only as good as its weakest player." This means that the success or performance of the team is dependent on the skills and abilities of its least skilled member. Another example: "Our products are only as good as the materials we use to make them." This implies that the quality of the products is directly linked to the quality of the materials used to create them.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Institutions are only as good as their leaders.

Yale University

Ballets like "Shrew" are only as good as their performance.

The New York Times - Arts

"Your models are only as good as your data".

The New York Times - Science

But these are only as good as the jury.

The Guardian - Arts

Architects, he says, are only as good as their vision.

The New York Times

"Drugs are only as good as the regulators".

The New York Times

You are only as good as your last shift.

The New York Times - Sports

"You are only as good as your last quarterly results".

The New York Times

"But education systems are only as good as their teachers.

The Guardian

Laws, of course, are only as good as their enforcers.

The Washington Post

And financial models are only as good as their makers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are only as good as" to set expectations or provide context about the limitations or potential of something. This can help manage perceptions and promote realistic assessments.

Common error

Avoid using "are only as good as" when the relationship is not a direct reflection of quality. For example, avoid saying "success is only as good as luck" because that undermines hard work, skills and effort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are only as good as" functions as a comparative correlative, establishing a relationship of direct dependence and proportional quality between two entities. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in diverse contexts, emphasizing that the quality of one aspect directly mirrors or is limited by another.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

30%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are only as good as" serves as a comparative correlative, emphasizing that the quality or effectiveness of something is directly proportional to a specific limiting factor. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse fields, including news, science, and academia. To ensure clarity, always be mindful that the two elements being compared have a clear and direct connection. Remember that overstating this connection or not providing enough context could cause misinterpretation and misunderstanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are no better than

Emphasizes that something cannot exceed the quality of something else, retaining a comparative element.

hinge upon

Shifts the focus to dependence, suggesting that the success or existence of one thing is contingent on another.

are limited by

Focuses solely on the limitation aspect, omitting the implied standard of comparison.

depend entirely on

Highlights complete reliance, altering the emphasis from a shared level of quality to utter dependence.

are merely reflections of

Changes the comparison to a reflection, implying a direct mirroring rather than a limit on quality.

are determined by

Indicates that something is defined or controlled by another, rather than being of equal quality.

rely heavily on

Focuses on the degree of dependence, suggesting that one thing needs the other to a significant extent.

are a function of

Replaces the comparative element with a mathematical relationship, where one thing is directly determined by another.

are a direct result of

Highlights that one situation arises due to another.

mirror the qualities of

The relation is now reversed from dependency to likeness.

FAQs

How can I use "are only as good as" in a sentence?

The phrase "are only as good as" is used to express that the quality or value of something is directly dependent on the quality or value of something else. For instance, "A building's structure "is only as strong as" its foundation" means the building's strength is limited by the foundation's strength.

What phrases are similar to "are only as good as"?

Similar phrases include "depend entirely on", "are no better than", and "hinge upon". Each carries a slightly different nuance of dependence or limitation.

Is it correct to say "are only as good as"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a comparative phrase used to suggest that something is of the same quality or value as something else.

What's the difference between "are only as good as" and "depend on"?

"Are only as good as" implies a direct correlation in quality, while "depend on" simply indicates reliance. You might say "the outcome depends on the weather", but "the harvest is only as good as the soil".