close to good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is nearly satisfactory or acceptable, but not quite there. Example: "The performance was close to good, but there were a few areas that needed improvement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Pretty good is not even close to good enough today.

The New York Times

Looking ahead to 2013, the European Commission offered nothing close to good news.

The New York Times

The neighborhood is close to good schools, golf courses and a swimming center.

The New York Times

"The ground is very close to good ground in parts but parts are a bit slow.

The Guardian - Sport

Only now that she lives so close to good friends does she realize the value of such proximity.

The New York Times

Another key aspect of a successful car-restricted development is its location close to good public transport links.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Their two sons — now 3 and 8 — needed space to run and jump without bothering neighbors, and the family needed to be closer to good schools.

The New York Times

Next, we designed a distance metric to quantitatively compare different AOI drawings, and used this metric to show that our improved rendering algorithm creates drawings which are closer to (good) human drawings than the original rendering algorithm.

Journal of Visual Languages & Computing

Well in this case it'll be whoever is deemed closest to "good".

TechCrunch

True, in some metropolitan areas you may pay a premium for being closer to good shopping and public transit.

Forbes

During the summer season (November to March), the producers located in the West of the Reserve move with their herds to the Andean foothills, while the residents that live in the Eastern side and closer to good feeding grounds remain sedentary.

Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "close to good" with specific criteria to provide context. For example, "The ground is very 'close to good' ground in parts but parts are a bit slow" gives the reader a better understanding of what 'good' means in this instance.

Common error

Avoid using "close to good" when the subject is far from meeting acceptable standards. It should accurately reflect a near-positive state, not a mere hope or aspiration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to good" primarily functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes the degree to which something approaches a state of being 'good', indicating it's nearly satisfactory. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

20%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "close to good" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, indicating that something is nearly satisfactory or acceptable but not quite excellent. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase follows standard grammar rules. It is most frequently found in News & Media contexts, with less common usage in scientific or informal settings. To use the phrase effectively, ensure that the subject is genuinely nearing a positive state. Overstating this proximity can mislead readers. Alternatives like "nearly good" or "almost good" may be suitable depending on the nuance you want to convey. While not very common, "close to good" offers a concise way to communicate near-satisfactory progress or quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly good

Emphasizes proximity to a state of goodness.

almost good

Highlights the nearly achieved state of goodness.

approaching good

Suggests movement toward a good state.

bordering on good

Indicates being at the edge of goodness.

nearing good

Similar to approaching, but with a sense of coming closer.

verging on good

Suggests a leaning toward goodness.

tantamount to good

Indicates something is equivalent in its effect to "good".

akin to good

Implies similarity to something good.

resembling good

Suggests a likeness to a state of being good.

similar to good

Highlights the shared characteristics with a "good" thing.

FAQs

How can I use "close to good" in a sentence?

You can use "close to good" to describe something that is almost satisfactory, but not quite perfect. For example: "The initial plan wasn't great, but the revised version is "close to good" now."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "close to good"?

Some alternatives include "nearly good", "almost good", or "approaching good". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "close to good enough"?

Yes, "close to good enough" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate that something almost meets the required standard but may still need some improvement.

What does it mean when something is described as "close to good"?

It means that the subject in question has nearly attained a positive or desirable state. It suggests it's better than average but still not quite excellent. For example, a first attempt may be "close to good", but could benefit from further refinement.