average at best

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "average at best" is correct and usable in written English.
It is generally used as an expression to comment on something that is below par or is considered mediocre. For example, "My report card was average at best - I'm sure I can do better next semester."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

The fielding has been average, at best.

The New York Times - Sports

"And today, I was average at best".

The New York Times

No. Her colleagues regard her skills as average at best.

The New York Times

Sehorn figures his play was "average, at best".

The New York Times - Sports

Their setup is average at best, Mrs. Ford insisted.

The New York Times - Travel

"We were average at best," said Sam Tomkins, the full-back.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Chip Kelly's Eagles are now tied atop the average-at-best N.F.C. East.

The New York Times - Sports

Sprint's music store is easily the best online feature, making great use of the EVDO pipe, but using Sprint TV to stream video was an average-at-best experience thanks to the tiny screen and the phone's relatively anemic processor.

TechCrunch

About to enter my fifth year of fighting colorectal cancer, which means I'm so far about average at besting the odds of survival since diagnosis.

Huffington Post

It follows a report warning that Welsh pupils' number abilities are "at best average" at over half the schools inspectors visited last year.

BBC

Although there was a great deal of such fine programming during this period, it should be remembered that it was not the norm: much of what was on television was of average quality at best, and some of it was bad by nearly any standard.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "average at best", ensure the context clearly indicates a negative assessment, implying something is not meeting expectations or performing poorly. For example, "The customer service was average at best, and I wouldn't recommend the product based on that experience."

Common error

Avoid using "average at best" when you intend to convey a neutral assessment. The phrase inherently carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting something is slightly worse than average, not merely typical. For a neutral assessment, simply use "average".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "average at best" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something's quality or performance is only marginally acceptable. It's employed to express a slightly negative evaluation, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Wiki

8%

Huffington Post

7%

Less common in

TechCrunch

5%

Vice

3%

Forbes

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "average at best" is a commonly used phrase expressing a mildly negative assessment. It functions as an adjective phrase, indicating something is only marginally acceptable and failing to meet expectations. While grammatically correct, it's crucial to use it when you intend to convey something is slightly worse than average. Ludwig's analysis shows its widespread usage in news and media, making it suitable for various registers. Remember, as Ludwig AI points out, context is key to ensure the phrase accurately reflects your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mediocre at best

Replaces "average" with "mediocre", emphasizing the lack of quality.

subpar at best

Uses "subpar" to suggest performance is below the expected standard.

ordinary at best

Emphasizes the commonness and unexceptional nature of something.

unremarkable at best

Highlights the lack of noteworthy qualities or features.

nothing special at best

Informal phrase that suggests a lack of distinction or superiority.

passable at best

Suggests something barely meets the minimum requirements.

weak at best

Indicates a lack of strength or effectiveness.

deficient at best

Highlights inadequacy or a significant lack of something.

lacking at best

Indicates that something is missing or insufficient.

so-so at best

An informal term indicating something is neither good nor bad, but merely acceptable.

FAQs

How can I use "average at best" in a sentence?

You can use "average at best" to describe something that is not very good or impressive. For example, "The food at the restaurant was average at best", or "His performance in the game was average at best".

What are some alternatives to saying "average at best"?

Some alternatives to "average at best" include "mediocre at best", "subpar at best", or "unremarkable at best". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "average at best" a negative or neutral statement?

"Average at best" is generally a negative statement. While it acknowledges something isn't terrible, it implies it's definitely not good. It suggests something is slightly below average or merely passable.

What's the difference between "average" and "average at best"?

"Average" is a neutral term that describes something typical or standard. "Average at best", on the other hand, implies a negative assessment, suggesting something barely meets the standard or is slightly worse than expected.