borderline reasonable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "borderline reasonable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is just within the limits of being considered reasonable, often implying that it is close to being unreasonable. Example: "The proposal was borderline reasonable, as it met some criteria but fell short in others."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

On any other day it would be a borderline-reasonable request, one that I have already made when I rescheduled because of a last-minute issue with my visa.

Vice

It is reasonable to ask where the borderline runs between a charity and an agency of government.

Independent

In general terms, the purpose of any safety standard is to define borderlines between safe and unsafe conditions, with reasonable safety margins.

Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries

The old model was filter, then publish: professional pride (such as it was) consisted of getting text into a reasonable state (ie, grammatically accurate, legally safe, borderline interesting, ideally not plagiarised) and then publishing it.

The Guardian - Books

However, with regard to the overall test performance and avoidance of borderline results, the cut-off definition at 20 ppm appears reasonable.

BMC Pediatrics

When the time comes to compute your final grade, participation (as indicated by a reasonable number of cards) can push you across a borderline to a higher grade.

Columbia University

The reasonable solution has always been obvious: to draw a borderline somewhere between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea that both sides, however grudgingly, could live with.

The New York Times

So it's reasonable to assume that easy access to porn including really hardcore, borderline violent stuff has had some effect on kids.

Vice

On any reasonable view of moral status, then, there will not be a large difference between the consideration due a borderline person and the consideration due a paradigmatic person, and a borderline person should therefore be viewed as analogous to a child: "not as substantially autonomous or as having full-fledged moral agency but as deserving moral protections of full strength" (ibid., 323).

SEP

"Borderline cocky.

The New York Times - Sports

Borderline unwatchable.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "borderline reasonable", ensure the context clarifies what specific aspects are close to the limit of being considered reasonable. This adds precision and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "borderline reasonable" when something is clearly unreasonable. The phrase implies a degree of justification that shouldn't be exaggerated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "borderline reasonable" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something is only just within the bounds of being considered reasonable. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "borderline reasonable" is a grammatically correct adjective phrase used to describe something that barely meets the criteria of being reasonable. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is valid and usable in written English, although its frequency is relatively rare. The phrase appears across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. Alternatives like "barely acceptable" or "almost reasonable" offer similar meanings with slight variations in nuance. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the context clarifies what aspects are close to the limit of reasonableness to avoid ambiguity. Overstating the reasonableness when it's clearly lacking is a common error to avoid.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost reasonable

Directly states that something is close to being reasonable but not quite.

barely acceptable

Focuses on the idea of just meeting the minimum requirements for acceptance.

just about acceptable

Conveys that the acceptability is very close to the limit.

marginally justifiable

Emphasizes the slight justification that exists, perhaps with reservations.

somewhat plausible

Highlights the believability aspect, suggesting it's believable but not entirely convincing.

tenuously justified

Highlights the weak or fragile nature of the justification.

scarcely sensible

Indicates a minimal level of sense or rationality.

questionably sound

Raises doubts about the validity or soundness of something.

peripherally logical

Suggests a distant or indirect connection to logic.

nominally rational

Implies that the rationality is more in name than in substance.

FAQs

How can I use "borderline reasonable" in a sentence?

You can use "borderline reasonable" to describe something that barely meets the requirements of being reasonable, implying it's close to being unreasonable. For example, "The suggestion was "almost reasonable", but it had too many flaws."

What's the difference between "borderline reasonable" and "perfectly reasonable"?

"Borderline reasonable" suggests something is just within the limits of being considered reasonable, while "perfectly reasonable" implies it is entirely and unquestionably reasonable. The former has a sense of barely meeting the standard, the latter fully meets it.

What can I say instead of "borderline reasonable"?

Alternatives include "barely acceptable", "marginally justifiable", or "somewhat plausible", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "borderline reasonable" a formal or informal expression?

"Borderline reasonable" is suitable for neutral to slightly formal contexts. While not overly technical, it's more appropriate for professional or academic settings than very casual conversation.