decent hearing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decent hearing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's ability to hear adequately or satisfactorily, often in a context discussing auditory capabilities. Example: "Despite his age, he still has a decent hearing and can follow conversations without difficulty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

A decent hearing aid is such a small thing.

The Guardian - Opinion

No lifestyle gets a decent hearing on "Two and a Half Men".

The New York Times - Arts

Her new works deserve a decent hearing, which they don't get tonight.

The Guardian - Music

It's quite tough as an agrichemical company to get a decent hearing, but our real-world activities working with farmers on Operation Pollinator are more important than PR".

The Guardian

The second irony is that this time, by proxy, through theatre and not journalism, those people finally get a decent hearing.

The Guardian - Opinion

They all have the same blue carpets, dark wood benches and American flags, identikit outposts of the Justice Department tucked away unannounced in office buildings.The system does a good job of giving each plaintiff a decent hearing.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Considering this glaring example of full-blown hate, I wondered how many good, decent people heard the offender during the course of his life and said nothing.

Huffington Post

It reminded me of the last decent speech we heard at a press gallery lunch – John Major's eloquent plea last October for those Etonian Tory ministers to do more for society's "silent have-nots".

The Guardian

Hearing their decent remixes of Spektrum and whoever you know they're capable of fucking things up marvellously but Eat Books plods along, conservative and square, like they were trying to appeal to a wider audience, got confused, and ended up diluting their style.

Vice

The group, a decent one when last heard, is led by Nina Beilina, a violinist.

The New York Times

By the time you've heard a decent chunk of the first movement, you may wish for inflated pathos.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing auditory abilities, use "decent hearing" to indicate a level that is acceptable but not necessarily exceptional. For example, "Despite the loud environment, he maintained a "decent hearing" and could understand the conversation."

Common error

Avoid using "decent hearing" when describing exceptional or highly sensitive auditory capabilities. The term suggests adequacy, not superiority.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decent hearing" functions primarily as a descriptor, specifying the quality of someone's auditory ability. It is used to indicate that the hearing is satisfactory or adequate, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

14%

Vice

14%

Less common in

BBC

1%

The New Yorker

1%

Huffington Post

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decent hearing" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, as confirmed by Ludwig. It's typically used to describe an auditory ability that is satisfactory but not necessarily exceptional. While not as frequent as alternatives like "good hearing", it finds common use in neutral contexts such as news and media, but is less used in academic and scientific contexts. While sources like The Guardian and The New York Times employ the phrase, remember that contexts needing technical or medical precision might require more specific audiological terminology. Ludwig shows the phrase to be a functional way to communicate about hearing capabilities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

good hearing

Emphasizes the positive quality of auditory perception, directly replacing "decent" with a more common synonym.

adequate hearing

Focuses on the sufficiency of hearing ability, suggesting it meets the required standard.

reasonable hearing

Implies that the hearing is fair or acceptable, though perhaps not exceptional.

satisfactory hearing

Highlights that the hearing meets a basic requirement or expectation.

auditory acuity

Uses a more technical term to describe the sharpness and clarity of hearing.

passable hearing

Suggests that hearing is just good enough to get by, implying a lower standard.

fair hearing

Shifts the context to providing an unbiased opportunity to be heard in a legal or formal setting.

impartial hearing

Similar to "fair hearing", emphasizing the lack of bias in listening to someone's perspective.

unbiased consideration

Broadens the concept to include thoughtful and objective evaluation, not limited to auditory input.

equitable review

Focuses on the just and balanced assessment of information, relevant in contexts where fairness is paramount.

FAQs

What does "decent hearing" mean?

The phrase "decent hearing" refers to an adequate or satisfactory ability to hear. It suggests that someone's hearing is functional and sufficient for everyday communication, but not necessarily exceptional.

What are some synonyms for "decent hearing"?

Alternatives to "decent hearing" include "good hearing", "adequate hearing", or "reasonable hearing", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "decent hearing" in a formal context?

Yes, "decent hearing" is generally acceptable in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly technical or medical settings, terms like "normal hearing range" or specific audiological measurements might be more appropriate.

How does "decent hearing" differ from "perfect hearing"?

"Decent hearing" implies an acceptable level of auditory function, while "perfect hearing" suggests an ideal or flawless ability to hear. The former is more commonly used to describe functional hearing, whereas the latter is less frequent and suggests exceptional auditory capabilities.