been doing pretty good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been doing pretty good" is not entirely correct in standard written English; it should be "been doing pretty well." You can use it in informal contexts to describe a satisfactory state or condition over a period of time.
Example: "I've been doing pretty well at my new job, and I'm enjoying the challenges it brings."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"If he's nervous, he's doing a pretty good job of hiding it," the adviser said.

The New York Times

"I've been doing pretty good the last three to six months not doing any press," he said.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

So far, she's done a pretty good job, and she hasn't gotten tired of me yet.

Science Magazine

"Vaseline's doing a pretty good job of creating a need here," Mr. January said.

The New York Times

I am doing pretty good".

The New York Times - Sports

We're doing pretty good".

The New York Times

"We're doing pretty good," Ms. Knowles said.

The New York Times

Dacher Keltner: I think you're doing pretty good work.

University of California, Berkeley

"Dawn says you're doing pretty good," I said.

The New York Times

"I'm doing pretty good, if you think about it".

Independent

The plant was "doing pretty good," he said.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In informal conversations, "been doing pretty good" can be acceptable if the context is clear.

Common error

Remember that "good" is typically an adjective, while "well" functions as an adverb. When describing how someone is doing (performing an action), use the adverb "well" rather than the adjective "good".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been doing pretty good" functions as a predicate in a sentence, describing a state of being or current condition. However, it's important to note, as Ludwig AI suggests, the grammatically correct form is "been doing pretty well".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science & Research

50%

Academia

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "been doing pretty good" is used in informal contexts to express a general sense of well-being or satisfactory performance, it's grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that the correct form is "been doing pretty well". For formal writing and professional communication, it's advisable to use the grammatically correct alternative or other similar phrases, like "been doing quite well". The phrase appears in a mix of news and science-related sources, indicating its broad but generally informal usage. Always consider your audience and the context when choosing between "been doing pretty good" and its more formal alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

been doing quite well

Replaces "pretty good" with "quite well", resulting in a slightly more formal tone.

been faring reasonably well

Substitutes "doing" with "faring" and "pretty good" with "reasonably well", suggesting a modest level of success.

been managing adequately

Emphasizes the act of managing and suggests a basic level of competence without implying excellence.

been performing satisfactorily

Replaces "doing" with "performing" and implies a standard level of fulfillment.

been progressing steadily

Focuses on consistent advancement, rather than overall assessment.

been holding my own

Emphasizes maintaining a stable position, often in a competitive environment.

been getting by alright

Indicates survival and basic contentment, implying a lack of major problems.

been coping effectively

Stresses the ability to deal with challenges successfully.

been navigating things okay

Highlights the process of moving through situations without major difficulties.

been maintaining an acceptable level

Focuses on maintaining a minimal standard rather than excelling.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "been doing pretty good"?

The grammatically correct phrase is "been doing pretty well". "Well" is an adverb used to describe how something is done, whereas "good" is an adjective.

Is it okay to use "been doing pretty good" in a casual conversation?

While grammatically incorrect, "been doing pretty good" is often used in informal settings. However, in formal writing or speech, it's best to use "been doing pretty well".

What can I say instead of "been doing pretty good"?

You can use alternatives like "been doing quite well", "been faring reasonably well", or "been managing adequately" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "been doing pretty good" and "been doing pretty well"?

"Been doing pretty good" is grammatically incorrect but used informally. "Been doing pretty well" is the grammatically correct form; "well" is an adverb modifying "doing", indicating the manner of performance.