decidedly useful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decidedly useful" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is very useful or highly beneficial. Example: "The new software update has proven to be decidedly useful, increasing productivity by 50%."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

So while the purpose these writers take from the woods is not as crass as that of clear-cutting loggers, tourists with cameras in tow, or weekend warriors on mountain bikes who forget to stop and look around, it is nonetheless a decidedly "useful" one.

The New Yorker

All of which is decidedly useful, but perhaps, not what makes YC singular.

Huffington Post

She performed an autopsy on an orphan child for whom she had cared, which gave her "decidedly useful" new knowledge.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The study, in the journal Science, dealt with a rare species, the horned lizard, in which the horns seem decidedly more useful against predators than against rivals.

The New York Times - Science

While the mobile app was excellent for when users were in triage mode — that is, when they were quickly deciding which emails to archive, which to respond to, and which to snooze for later — it was decidedly less useful for composing messages of any length or substance.

TechCrunch

While the mobile app was excellent for when users were in triage mode — that is, when they were quickly deciding which emails to archive, which to respond to, and which to snooze for later — it was decidedly less useful for composing messages of any length or substance.

TechCrunch

CARROT Weather is one of a long line of decidedly unfriendly, but ultimately very useful apps in the CARROT series.

Forbes

The last thing you want is a group of buildings sanctified but not used, or not useful in a way society's moving". Stanley Tigerman, who once worked in Weese's Chicago office, was decidedly realistic.

HuffPost

Few 'ex-users' decidedly ruled out any future use.

BMC Public Health

The Digg Labs tools, created by San Francisco firm Stamen Design with input from Digg, have drawn decidedly mixed reviews: they're lauded by some as simple and useful, criticized by others as fascinating but confusing.

MIT Technology Review

Although the power was "decidedly evil and very fun to watch", the team felt it wasn't useful to the game, though they managed to retain a hint of it in one of the Evil side missions.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "decidedly useful" when you want to emphasize that something is not just useful, but remarkably so. It adds a layer of strong affirmation to the usefulness.

Common error

Avoid using "decidedly useful" when the usefulness is already self-evident. This can make your writing sound redundant or patronizing. For example, saying "Water is decidedly useful for hydration" is unnecessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decidedly useful" functions as an intensifier followed by an adjective. "Decidedly" modifies "useful", strengthening its meaning. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase is grammatically correct and used to describe something highly beneficial. It serves to emphasize the degree of utility.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decidedly useful" is a grammatically sound phrase that combines an intensifier with an adjective to emphasize the high degree of utility or benefit. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and typical use in describing highly beneficial things. Though relatively rare in overall usage, it appears across various contexts, including News & Media, Wiki, and Science. When employing this phrase, ensure the emphasis is warranted and avoids redundancy. While alternatives exist, such as "extremely beneficial" or "highly advantageous", "decidedly useful" carries a specific nuance of noticeable and strong utility. The phrase should be considered carefully to not overstate the obvious or make the writing sound patronizing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Extremely beneficial

Replaces "decidedly" with "extremely", intensifying the degree of usefulness.

Clearly beneficial

Emphasizes the obvious nature of the usefulness.

Highly advantageous

Substitutes both words with synonyms, maintaining a formal tone.

Undeniably valuable

Highlights the indisputable nature of the usefulness.

Notably helpful

Replaces "decidedly" with "notably", which means 'in a way that is worth paying attention to'.

Particularly helpful

Emphasizes the distinctive quality of being helpful.

Remarkably valuable

Replaces "useful" with "valuable", suggesting significance or importance.

Plainly advantageous

Suggests the advantage is obvious or easy to recognize.

Significantly effective

Replaces both words with near-synonyms that emphasize the impact of the usefulness.

Distinctly helpful

Emphasizes the clear and unambiguous nature of the helpfulness.

FAQs

How can I use "decidedly useful" in a sentence?

You can use "decidedly useful" to emphasize the degree to which something is helpful or beneficial. For instance, "The new feature in the software proved to be "decidedly useful" for improving workflow efficiency."

What are some alternatives to "decidedly useful"?

Alternatives to "decidedly useful" include "extremely beneficial", "highly advantageous", or "notably helpful". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "decidedly useful" formal or informal?

"Decidedly useful" leans toward the formal side due to the use of "decidedly". It is suitable for professional or academic writing, but may sound slightly out of place in very informal conversations.

What's the difference between "useful" and "decidedly useful"?

"Useful" simply indicates that something is helpful. "Decidedly useful" adds emphasis, indicating that something is not just useful, but remarkably or noticeably so. It conveys a stronger sense of benefit.