decent performance

USAGE SUMMARY

"decent performance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an acceptable level of performance in any context. For example, "Despite some initial difficulties, John had a decent performance in the spelling bee."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But it was a decent performance, I've got no problem with the way we performed".

BBC

This has dragged an otherwise decent performance down.

Independent

"It was a decent performance today, not a great performance.

The New York Times - Sports

It was a decent performance, rather than a great one.

The Guardian

I'm satisfied they put a decent performance in.

The Guardian - Sport

A decent performance without ever really getting going.

The New York Times

Note: while this code works with any Collection, you should provide a Set for decent performance.

Stanford University

It showed decent performance on account of the redox reaction (Fe3+ ↔ Fe0).

Electrochimica Acta

Mr. Krajcik wasn't the only contestant to give a decent performance.

The New York Times

Any withdrawals from clients would come after a year of decent performance for SAC.

The New York Times

The evening ended with Brahms's Second Serenade in a decent performance.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "decent performance" when you want to convey that something was satisfactory but not necessarily exceptional. It's a good middle-ground term to use when evaluating something objectively.

Common error

Avoid consistently using "decent performance" as it can make your writing sound bland. Vary your descriptors with stronger adjectives like "good", "solid", or "remarkable" to add more nuance and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decent performance" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "decent" modifies the noun "performance". According to Ludwig, the phrase indicates an acceptable, yet not necessarily outstanding, level of achievement or execution.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

19%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decent performance" is a commonly used phrase to describe an adequate or satisfactory level of achievement. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts. While not exceptional, it conveys a positive assessment that something met an expected standard. The phrase sees frequent use in news and media, as well as scientific and academic writing, making it a versatile option for expressing moderate satisfaction. When writing, consider whether a stronger or more specific adjective might be more appropriate to convey your intended meaning. Always keep in mind your audience and desired tone in selecting your words.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

good performance

Substitutes "decent" with "good", simply indicating a positive level of execution or quality.

suitable performance

Replaces "decent" with "suitable", implying the performance meets the requirements but not necessarily exceeding them.

appropriate performance

Replaces "decent" with "appropriate", meaning the performance is fitting or suitable for a specific context or purpose.

fair performance

Substitutes "decent" with "fair", suggesting an unbiased and acceptable but not outstanding result.

respectable performance

Uses "respectable" instead of "decent", indicating the performance is worthy of admiration or recognition.

reasonable performance

Replaces "decent" with "reasonable", implying the performance is moderate, fair, and justifiable.

worthy performance

Substitutes "decent" with "worthy", highlighting the performance as valuable or deserving of praise.

presentable performance

Uses "presentable" instead of "decent", suggesting the performance is suitable to be shown or offered.

adequate performance

Uses "adequate" instead of "decent", suggesting the performance is just sufficient or acceptable.

better performance

Suggests an improvement from a previous or expected level, focusing on the comparative aspect of the performance.

FAQs

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

You can use "decent performance" to describe an adequate but not exceptional level of achievement. For example, "The team put up a "decent performance" despite the challenges." or "The new software offers a "decent performance" for its price point."

What can I say instead of "decent performance"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "good performance", "adequate performance", or "satisfactory performance".

Which is correct, "decent performance" or "good performance"?

Both "decent performance" and "good performance" are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "Decent performance" suggests something is acceptable or satisfactory, while "good performance" indicates a higher level of achievement and is a more emphatic and positive assessment.

What's the difference between "decent performance" and "acceptable performance"?

"Decent performance" and "acceptable performance" are very similar. However, "decent" can sometimes imply a slightly better quality or standard than merely "acceptable", suggesting it's not just meeting the minimum requirement, but is nevertheless not stellar.