but no better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but no better" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not worse than another option, but it also does not improve upon it. Example: "The new model is cheaper, but no better than the previous version in terms of performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

I thought it was fine, but no better than Pizza Express.

The Guardian - Opinion

The taste is good, but no better than Gordon Ramsay's, and soured slightly for me by the extra washing up.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But no, "Better Than Well" is actually the perfect New Puritan narrative, set exclusively in the moment, with no past, no future and all due "textual simplicity".

The New York Times - Books

It has been long known that the problem can be approximated within a factor of H k)="∑i= 1k(1/i) by the greedy heuristic, but no better bound has been shown except for the case of unweighted subsets.

Discrete Applied Mathematics

Various aspects of the designs, results and statistical analysis are reviewed, trying to facilitate his comprehension from the basics to what is most common but no better understood, and bringing a constructive, non-exhaustive but realistic look.

Medicina Intensiva

So the most you can hope to have are practices as good as, but no better than, those of top performers and by the time you mimic them, they've moved on.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

But politicians are no better.

The Guardian

But 35 Rf8 was no better.

The New York Times

"But I'm no better than anyone else.

The New York Times

But centralisation often works no better.

The Economist

But that job was no better.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but no better" to objectively compare options, especially when highlighting that an alternative, despite differences, offers no real advantage.

Common error

Avoid using "but no better" when personal preference plays a significant role. This phrase implies an objective comparison, so subjective contexts might require a different expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but no better" functions as a comparative conjunction, used to indicate that something is equivalent to another option, without offering any tangible improvements. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

27%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but no better" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in English writing. It functions as a comparative conjunction to indicate equivalence or a lack of improvement between two options. It is considered neutral in register and appears often in News & Media. When you want to objectively compare and contrast options make sure to use the phrase "but no better".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no better than

Rephrases by including 'than', making the comparison more explicit.

as good as

Highlights the equivalent quality.

equally good

Focuses on the equal quality, omitting the contrastive element.

just as good

Emphasizes the satisfactory quality of the alternative.

not superior

Uses a more formal term to express the lack of advantage.

on par with

Implies that the alternative is at the same level.

no different than

Shifts the focus to a lack of distinction rather than quality.

comparable to

Suggests a level of similarity in quality or effectiveness.

equivalent to

Indicates an equal value or effect.

the same as

Emphasizes the identity or near identity between the two options.

FAQs

How can I use "but no better" in a sentence?

Use "but no better" to indicate that something is equivalent to something else, with no advantage. For example: "The new phone is cheaper, "but no better" than the old one."

What's a formal alternative to "but no better"?

In formal contexts, you can use phrases like "equally effective", "comparable to", or "no superior alternative" to convey a similar meaning to "but no better".

What's the difference between "but no better" and "but not worse"?

"But no better" indicates equivalence, while "but not worse" implies that the item might be slightly inferior, but still acceptable. The phrase "but no better" suggests a lack of improvement, and "but not worse" suggests no decline in quality.

When is it appropriate to use "but no better"?

It's appropriate to use "but no better" when you want to point out that an alternative or change does not provide any significant improvement over the original or existing option. You can use it when an alternative is "equally good".