decent success

USAGE SUMMARY

"decent success" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used as a noun phrase to describe a level of success that is satisfactory or acceptable, but perhaps not exceptional. Example: Despite some setbacks, the project was ultimately met with decent success.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Disney and other children's publishers have had decent success with one-time sales of magazines at retailers like Barnes & Noble and grocery stores.

The New York Times

And at a specialty label like CRI, selling even 500 total copies of a CD over several years was thought a decent success.

The New York Times - Arts

McDowell was bluntly honest when asked what he knew of this 33-year-old who has enjoyed decent success on his home tour.

The Guardian - Sport

Jordin Sparks, who has had decent success, also beat out a male.

Forbes

Until now the game was only available via an Android app and the web, and has actually seen decent success considering the competition in the mobile social gaming space.

TechCrunch

While in the first half of the year we had decent success with cost-per-click campaigns such as Google Adwords, in the recent past virtually all sorts of paid advertising were totally ineffective (with Admob and Facebook offering the worst value in terms of ad dollars spent per sale).

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Whether owned by athlete or actor, writer or rapper, plenty of celebrity-backed and athlete-owned restaurants go on to be, if not hits, at least moderate to decent successes.

Huffington Post

It definitely doesn't seem to have what it takes to turn around the flagging fortunes of a once-great mobile phone brand, and at $199 on contract I wonder if it'll even be able to trade its "Made in USA" cachet for decent domestic success.

TechCrunch

McCourt's Dodgers had decent on-field success.

The New York Times - Sports

The modest circumstances give the opera and its cast a decent chance for success.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Levitin thought there was a decent likelihood of success; Mr. Cox, a former assistant attorney general himself, was also hopeful — though more skeptical.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "decent success" with specific metrics to provide context. Instead of just saying a project had "decent success", mention specific numbers or milestones achieved to give a clearer picture.

Common error

Avoid using "decent success" when the actual results were remarkable or outstanding. Using a stronger adjective like "significant" or "substantial" would be more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decent success" functions as a noun phrase, where "decent" modifies the noun "success". As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it describes a level of achievement that is satisfactory but not exceptional. It is used to quantify or qualify an outcome.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decent success" is a noun phrase used to describe an achievement that is satisfactory but not exceptional. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, offering a balanced assessment of outcomes. While the phrase is not particularly formal, it is neutrally registered and appropriate for general discussions. When using this phrase, ensure the level of achievement aligns with the described outcome to avoid overstatement. Alternatives such as ""moderate success"" or ""respectable success"" can be used to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

respectable success

Emphasizes the socially acceptable or admirable aspect of the success.

moderate success

Highlights the limited or average nature of the success.

reasonable success

Focuses on the fairness or justifiability of the level of success.

satisfactory success

Underscores that the success meets the required expectations or standards.

fair success

Indicates an adequate, but not outstanding, level of achievement.

modest success

Highlights the humble or limited nature of the success.

acceptable success

Emphasizes that the success is sufficient or allowable.

passable success

Indicates a minimal level of success that is just good enough.

tolerable success

Suggests the success is barely acceptable or endurable.

adequate success

Focuses on the sufficiency of the success to meet a particular need or requirement.

FAQs

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

You can use "decent success" to describe an outcome that is moderately positive but not exceptional. For example, "The marketing campaign achieved "decent success", increasing sales by 15%."

What are some alternatives to "decent success"?

Alternatives include "moderate success", "reasonable success", or "respectable success", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "decent success" or "great success"?

The choice depends on the actual level of achievement. Use "decent success" when the outcome is satisfactory but not outstanding. Use "great success" for truly remarkable accomplishments.

What's the difference between "decent success" and "adequate success"?

"Decent success" implies a more positive connotation than "adequate success". "Adequate" suggests just meeting the minimum requirements, while "decent" suggests a more satisfactory outcome.