close to acceptable

USAGE SUMMARY

"close to acceptable" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing something that is nearly satisfactory but not quite there. Example: "The proposal was close to acceptable, but it needed a few revisions." Alternative expressions include "nearly acceptable" and "almost satisfactory."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

But, and this is a huge but, that does not mean that an attack such as this on any person's body or weight is anything close to acceptable.

Independent

Very poor performance of all formulas tested none were close to acceptable accuracy.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

The index of RMSEA of 0.089 of Park's model using our sample stayed within an adequate range, while the other indices were close to acceptable.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

Nothing -- and I mean nothing -- about our elected representatives in Washington is even close to acceptable.

Huffington Post

And I really don't see why being tormented from such a young age in any way (whether it be the kind of teasing that makes you cry, or the kind of bullying that finds you on your back on the playground, being kicked) is even close to acceptable, let alone necessary.

Huffington Post

The RMSEA values ranged from 0.03 to 0.07, indicating close to acceptable fit for all scales.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

For the dataset of low and moderate counts, the distribution of x-statistics is made considerably closer to acceptable, although the p-value of the X-statistic remains significant.

Analytical Chemistry

While the club may try and prise a higher fee for him it is understood City's offer is close to being acceptable.

The Guardian - Sport

Not only is Sarah Palin not close to being acceptable in high office—I would not have hired her for even a mid-level post in the arms-control agency.

The New Yorker

Not only is Sarah Palin not close to being acceptable in high office — I would not have hired her for even a mid-level post in the arms-control agency.

The New Yorker

Overall, all index values in the model reached or were close to the acceptable levels.

Fashion and Textiles

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific writing, use this phrase to describe statistical model fits or data accuracy that nearly reaches significance.

Common error

Avoid using "close to acceptable" when you actually mean "close to accepted". The former refers to the quality or standard of a thing, while the latter refers to its social or formal reception. For instance, a scientific theory might be "close to acceptable" in terms of data, but not yet "close to accepted" by the general community.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to acceptable" functions primarily as an adjective phrase that serves as a subject complement or a post-modifier. According to Ludwig, it typically follows a linking verb to describe a subject's state relative to a predefined threshold or standard.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Social Media

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "close to acceptable" is a versatile and grammatically correct phrase frequently utilized in high-stakes environments like scientific research and political journalism. Ludwig AI highlights that it is particularly effective for describing model fits, budget deficits, and social behaviors that almost meet expectations. While it is less common in casual conversation, its prevalence in authoritative sources like The New York Times and various BMC journals confirms its status as a robust choice for professional and academic writing. Writers should use it to signal that a subject is nearing a critical benchmark, while being careful to distinguish it from social acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly acceptable

Uses an adverb to modify the adjective directly, often sounding more concise.

almost satisfactory

Changes the core adjective to describe something that meets basic requirements.

borderline acceptable

Suggests the item is right on the edge of being approved or rejected.

virtually acceptable

Implies that for all practical purposes, it meets the standard.

approaching acceptable

Focuses on the movement or progress toward reaching the standard.

nearly up to standard

Uses a more idiomatic expression focused on pre-defined benchmarks.

close to being acceptable

Adds a gerund for a slightly more formal or rhythmic emphasis on the state of existence.

barely acceptable

Indicates that it just barely meets the minimum requirement, emphasizing the narrow margin.

approximately acceptable

Often used in mathematical or technical contexts to describe rough estimates.

sub-acceptable

A more clinical or technical term indicating it is still below the threshold.

FAQs

How to use "close to acceptable" in a sentence?

You can use it as a predicative adjective, for example: "The initial results were "close to acceptable", but further refinement is necessary."

What is the difference between "close to acceptable" and "nearly acceptable"?

While both mean almost reaching a standard, "nearly acceptable" is often more direct, whereas "close to acceptable" emphasizes the proximity to a threshold.

Is "close to acceptable" formal enough for academic writing?

Yes, Ludwig shows many examples from scientific journals like Nature and PubMed. However, for even higher formality, you might consider "approaching satisfactory".

Can I say "close to being acceptable" instead?

Yes, adding "being" is common in news media, such as The Guardian, to emphasize the process or state of the subject reaching that level.