far from decent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far from decent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is significantly below an acceptable standard of decency or morality. Example: "The conditions in the shelter were far from decent, leaving many residents feeling uncomfortable and unsafe."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Mark never tired of expressing his astonishment that any surfer would choose to live in Boston, so far from decent waves.

The New Yorker

For the moment, "Inno", as the family calls him, is a sensitive country boy with all the advantages of a safe outdoor life, but with the disadvantages that come from living in a remote area of Malawi, far from decent health services, transport and good schools.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As Greg's far-from-decent counterpart, Mr. Pasquale embodies the more classic LaBute antihero with a furtive ease that sometimes eluded Mr. Schreiber.

The New York Times

It's like someone had some spare roundabouts in the fridge and some tarmac that was going out of date the very next day and decided to just plop them down as far away from decent civilisation as they could.

Vice

This means that no matter how extreme your trek, you are never far from a decent restaurant, shop, or – increasingly – a stylish little hotel.

The Guardian - Travel

The guy who, in his youth and hard up for money (pun intended), would sell his sperm is depicted the kind of shiftless character who should be kept as far as possible from decent and settled family people.

The New Yorker

Far from nurturing them, a decent reform programme would take steps towards putting them out of business, either to be replaced by consumer-friendly private services (the first group) or closed down to boost scale and efficiency (the second).

The Economist

Far from it they were a decent band with some great songs, and they put on a fantastic show.

Vice

While far from gamechangers, Texas have written enough decent songs that two hours rarely drag.

Independent

Far from it: this is a decent action movie with a few clever ideas.

Independent

After being published without much fanfare, to decent but far from overwhelming reviews, One Day became a word of mouth success.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far from decent" to describe situations or behaviors that fall significantly short of accepted moral or ethical standards. This phrase is effective when you want to express strong disapproval or disappointment.

Common error

Avoid using "far from decent" in highly formal or academic writing where more neutral or technical language would be more appropriate. Consider using more precise and less emotionally charged alternatives such as "inadequate" or "substandard".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far from decent" functions as a qualifier, modifying a noun or situation to indicate it fails to meet a basic standard of acceptability or morality. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "far from decent" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe something that doesn't meet an acceptable standard of quality or morality. As Ludwig AI suggests, it effectively conveys disapproval or disappointment and is versatile enough for use in various contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing, remember to reserve it for situations where a significant deficiency exists and to adjust your language to suit the formality of your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nowhere near decent

Emphasizes the distance from meeting a standard of decency.

not remotely decent

Highlights the lack of any degree of decency.

anything but decent

Directly negates the possibility of being decent.

not at all decent

Simple and direct way of expressing a lack of decency.

hardly decent

Suggests a minimal level of decency, which is still insufficient.

quite indecent

Emphasizes an active state of indecency.

well below decent

Indicates a significant gap below the standard of decency.

utterly lacking in decency

Emphasizes a complete absence of decency.

deficient in decency

Focuses on the deficiency or lack of decency.

wanting in decency

Highlights the inadequacy regarding decency.

FAQs

How can I use "far from decent" in a sentence?

You can use "far from decent" to describe something that doesn't meet the expected standards of morality or quality. For example, "The living conditions were "far from decent", with inadequate sanitation and overcrowding."

What are some alternatives to "far from decent"?

Alternatives include "not remotely decent", "anything but decent", or "utterly lacking in decency" depending on the level of emphasis you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "not decent" instead of "far from decent"?

"Not decent" is grammatically correct, but "far from decent" emphasizes a greater distance from the standard of decency. The choice depends on the degree of inadequacy you wish to express.

What's the difference between "indecent" and "far from decent"?

"Indecent" typically refers to something that violates standards of modesty or is morally offensive. "Far from decent" is broader and can refer to something that simply doesn't meet a minimum standard of acceptability, not necessarily implying moral offense.