be not very helpful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be not very helpful" is correct and usable in written English, though it may sound somewhat archaic or formal.
You can use it when expressing that something or someone is not providing much assistance or support. Example: "The instructions provided by the manual seem to be not very helpful in resolving the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But Dr. Sylvie Briand of the W.H.O.'s global flu program said it would be "not very helpful" to switch to alerts like those for hurricanes, which are based on wind speeds.

The New York Times

Suppressing your feelings turns out to be not very helpful for curbing emotional eating.

Huffington Post

Obviously things like weight-bearing exercises, running, etcetera, tend to be not very helpful, and I'll often stress the importance of things like swimming, and demonstrate quadriceps exercises in clinic with the patient as well.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

I have learned that anger is not very helpful, but I can't help myself.

The Guardian

This is not very helpful.

What Went Wrong? Case Histories of Process Plant Disasters and How They Could Hare Been Avoided

It's not very helpful.

Harvard Business Review

"That's not very helpful advice.

The New York Times

And that was not very helpful".

The New York Times - Sports

That's not very helpful to morale".

The New York Times

But that alone is not very helpful.

The New York Times - Tech

Frankly, it's not very helpful".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Substitute "not particularly helpful" or "not especially helpful" for a softer and less formal alternative.

Common error

Avoid using "be not very helpful" in contexts that call for more direct or informal language. In casual conversation or less formal writing, simpler alternatives like "not much help" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be not very helpful" functions as a predicate adjective phrase. It describes the subject by indicating a lack of effectiveness or assistance. The auxiliary verb "be" links the subject to the adjectival description. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase is used to express inadequacy or ineffectiveness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be not very helpful" is grammatically correct but relatively rare in modern English. Ludwig AI indicates it expresses a lack of assistance or effectiveness, often with a slightly formal tone. While understandable across various contexts, it's most commonly found in news, science, and encyclopedic writing. When choosing alternatives, consider the desired level of formality, with options like "not particularly helpful" offering a softer nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not particularly helpful

Uses "particularly" for a slightly softer tone.

not especially helpful

Substitutes "especially" for a similar nuance.

not very effective

Focuses on the effectiveness rather than the helpfulness.

not of much assistance

More formal and emphasizes the lack of aid.

somewhat unhelpful

Uses "somewhat" to indicate a milder degree of ineffectiveness.

rather unhelpful

Employs "rather" for a slightly more emphatic tone.

not much help

A more concise and informal alternative.

doesn't provide much support

Highlights the absence of support.

proves unavailing

A more literary and formal way to express ineffectiveness.

fails to assist adequately

Formal and emphasizes the failure to provide sufficient help.

FAQs

What does "be not very helpful" mean?

The phrase "be not very helpful" means something or someone is providing little to no assistance or is ineffective in a particular situation.

What can I say instead of "be not very helpful"?

You can use alternatives like "not particularly helpful", "not very effective", or "not much help" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "be not very helpful"?

Yes, "be not very helpful" is grammatically correct, though it carries a slightly more formal or archaic tone compared to alternatives like "is not very helpful".

How to use "be not very helpful" in a sentence?

Example: "The instructions provided by the manual be not very helpful in resolving the issue". Consider slightly more common alternatives such as, "The instructions provided by the manual "are not very helpful" in resolving the issue".