far from great

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far from great" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is significantly below a high standard or expectation. Example: "The movie was far from great, leaving many viewers disappointed with the plot and character development."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Lifestyle

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

That's far from great.

The New Yorker

The book Moynihan left behind is far from great.

The New York Times - Books

Though still far from great, the sound was unquestionably mellower and more blended here.

The New York Times - Arts

They're far from great, but this short club set is enough to hear that they are already outgrowing their influences.

Independent

Mularkey's track record, his antiquated philosophy and his limited roster suggests they will be far from great.

The Guardian - Sport

So how do we bring a little perspective to the discussion about these far from great expectorations?

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Gov. Phil Bryant and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves (a man who knows better and so is all the more despicable for pushing laws in which he doesn't believe in order to win higher office) are channeling the late, far-from-great Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett in pushing bigotry and general stupidity.

Huffington Post

But far from greater intimacy leading to increased understanding, all those fly-drives to Florida and whistle-stop tours of Yosemite have only widened the gulf.

BBC

And Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode, though a great frontman, was far from a great solo act, even when he tried to please the crowd with Depeche Mode hits.

The New York Times - Arts

From the story Kachka tells, Roger emerges as a truly great publisher but very far from a great man.

The New Yorker

Here, not far from the Great Wall, the smog of China's congested capital clears and the pleasures of nature, religion and philosophy come to the fore.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far from great" to offer a softened critique. It's less harsh than saying something is "terrible" or "awful".

Common error

While acceptable in many situations, avoid "far from great" in very formal writing. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "suboptimal" or "deficient" depending on the specific context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far from great" functions as an adjectival phrase. It modifies a noun by expressing that something does not meet the criteria of being 'great'. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable and correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

15%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Opinion

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "far from great" is a commonly used adjectival phrase that expresses a negative assessment without being overly critical. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. While suitable for many contexts, including news and media, it may be less appropriate for highly formal or scientific writing, where more precise vocabulary is preferred. Consider alternatives like "not particularly good", "subpar", or "less than ideal" depending on the desired level of formality and nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not particularly good

Emphasizes a lack of positive qualities without being overly negative.

subpar

A concise term indicating performance or quality below the expected standard.

less than ideal

Suggests a situation or outcome that is not optimal or satisfactory.

not up to par

An idiomatic expression indicating something fails to meet the required standard.

rather poor

Indicates a low level of quality or performance.

deficient

Highlights a lack of essential qualities or elements.

disappointing

Focuses on the feeling of unmet expectations.

wanting

Suggests a deficiency or lack of something necessary or desired.

second-rate

Implies a lower quality compared to others of its kind.

not the best

A simple and direct way to express that something is not of the highest quality.

FAQs

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

Use "far from great" to describe something that doesn't meet expectations or isn't of high quality. For example, "The movie was "far from great", leaving many viewers disappointed".

What are some alternatives to "far from great"?

You can use alternatives like "not particularly good", "subpar", or "less than ideal" to convey a similar meaning, depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "far from great" in formal writing?

While understandable, "far from great" might be too informal for academic or business writing. Consider using alternatives like "suboptimal" or "deficient".

What's the difference between "far from great" and "terrible"?

"Far from great" suggests something is below average or disappointing, while "terrible" indicates something is extremely bad or unpleasant. "Far from great" is a milder expression than "terrible".