decent advice

USAGE SUMMARY

"decent advice" is a perfectly correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You could use it when giving an opinion on something, for example: "I always follow my grandfather's decent advice: never skip breakfast."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

The next thing you need is some decent advice.

The Guardian

Sometimes he adjusts his maximum purchase price based on the condition of the bicycle, but never during bidding - decent advice for any auction, including those on eBay.

The Guardian - Tech

At the very least, people who are not offered housing by their local authority should being given decent advice and treated with dignity.

The Guardian

The trip was chaos, much like their life at the time, and Roberts decided what she needed was decent advice: where to holiday?

The Guardian

"If I'd had some decent advice earlier on, I think I'd have made a better decision, perhaps started an apprenticeship," says the 17-year-old, who earns £5 an hour.

The Guardian

A passage in Auden I read before lunch has convinced me to spend the weekend on other pursuits: …when what mother said seems Such darling rubbish and the decent advice Of the liberal weeklies as lost an art As peasant pottery, for plainly it is not To the Cross or to Clarté or to Common Sense Our passions pray but to primitive totems As absurd as they are savage….

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Whoever said it, it's decent enough advice.

HuffPost

"All the evidence is that you need trained professionals to provide decent careers advice, and what you also need is face-to-face guidance.

The Guardian

Like so many of us, I'm decent at giving advice.

Huffington Post

See Using Decent Locks for advice on U locks, and Selecting a Lock Location for how to select an object to secure your bike to.

WikiHow

"Find a nice person, get married and settle down," seems like decent-ish life advice, but if you turn it into "Select one of these four people, get married in one of these four ceremonies, and buy one of these four houses" suddenly it's something else.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "decent advice" when you want to suggest the advice is reasonably good and helpful, but perhaps not exceptional. It implies a level of adequacy and reliability.

Common error

In formal writing, avoid overusing "decent advice" as it might sound understated. Consider stronger alternatives like "sound counsel" or "valuable guidance" to convey a more impactful message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decent advice" functions as a noun phrase, where "decent" modifies the noun "advice". It typically serves to describe the quality or nature of the advice being given, suggesting it is reasonably good or acceptable. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Wiki

14%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "decent advice" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that describes advice of reasonably good quality. Ludwig AI validates this. While not exceptionally formal, it is versatile and appears most frequently in news and media contexts. When choosing to use this phrase, remember that while it implies an acceptable standard, it may be beneficial to consider more impactful alternatives like "sound counsel" or "valuable guidance" in more formal settings. Be mindful of the specific nuances you wish to convey in your writing to ensure the chosen phrase accurately reflects the intent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sound counsel

Emphasizes the wisdom and reliability of the advice.

good guidance

Focuses on the helpful and directional aspect of the advice.

sensible recommendations

Highlights the practicality and rationality of the suggestions.

solid suggestions

Implies a reliable and well-founded basis for the advice.

helpful tips

Specifically refers to smaller, actionable pieces of advice.

valuable input

Focuses on the usefulness and importance of the advice.

practical insights

Emphasizes the real-world application of the advice.

reliable direction

Highlights the trustworthy and guiding nature of the advice.

worthy suggestions

Emphasizes the merit and value of the advice.

constructive feedback

Focuses on advice given with the intention of improvement.

FAQs

How can I use "decent advice" in a sentence?

You can use "decent advice" to describe recommendations that are reasonably good and helpful. For example: "He gave me some "decent advice" about investing in the stock market."

What's a more formal alternative to "decent advice"?

In formal settings, consider using phrases like "sound counsel", "valuable guidance", or "reliable recommendations" instead of "decent advice".

Is "decent advice" suitable for academic writing?

"Decent advice" is generally acceptable, but in academic writing, it may be more appropriate to use phrases such as "well-founded recommendations" or "substantiated guidance" for increased precision.

When should I use "decent advice" versus "good advice"?

Use "decent advice" when you want to convey that the advice is reasonably adequate and helpful. "Good advice" is a more general term implying that the advice is of high quality. You could use "sound counsel" for more serious matters.