far outstanding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far outstanding" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not commonly used and may confuse readers due to the juxtaposition of "far" and "outstanding." Example: "The performance was far outstanding compared to previous years."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

SEASON SO FAR: Outstanding.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

For me, he is by far the outstanding Romantic, and he is as readable and relevant today as ever.

The Guardian - Books

But by far the outstanding work was that of Jacques Ozanam, the precursor of books to follow for the next 200 years.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The performances of the five leading roles were far from outstanding, but the choreography, with its dazzling imagery of destiny and continuity, remained enthralling.

The New York Times - Arts

He is by far the outstanding candidate to replace Gordon Strachan when – and it is now when – the latter's increasingly unsatisfactory to the point of untenable alliance with Scotland comes to an end.

The Guardian - Sport

Michael O'Neill is by far the outstanding candidate to replace Strachan if, and it is a huge if, he can be convinced that Scotland represents a sensible career step from Northern Ireland.

The Guardian - Sport

Yonah Acosta, for instance, is far more outstanding than he should be for the glinting, avaricious swagger with which he portrays Birbanto; for all the beauty of Vadim Muntagirov's dancing and partnerwork, his Conrad looks almost insipid by comparison.

The Guardian

In contrast, smaller towns and less populated areas across the UK often do not have enough secondary schools to create a genuinely competitive environment, meaning that parents are simply choosing between two or three decent, but far from outstanding, schools.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yes, the murder was brutal, and the victim was a pretty young woman, but that alone was far from outstanding.

Huffington Post

Although a few charter schools have been educationally outstanding, far more have been egregious organisational failures.

The Economist

Per share earnings rose however, to $1.58 from $1.47, because the company had far fewer shares outstanding in the recent quarter.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "far outstanding" in formal writing. Opt for phrases like "exceptionally outstanding" or "by far the best" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Using "far" directly before adjectives like "outstanding" is often grammatically awkward. Instead, use adverbs that clearly modify adjectives, such as "exceptionally", "remarkably", or rephrase to use "by far the best".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far outstanding" functions as an attempt to intensify the adjective "outstanding" using the adverb "far". However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically incorrect and not commonly used.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the intent behind using the phrase "far outstanding" is to emphasize exceptional quality, it's not considered grammatically correct in standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, it's better to use alternatives like "exceptionally outstanding" or "by far the best". These options provide clarity and adhere to conventional grammatical norms. Although the phrase appears in varied contexts such as news, encyclopedias and scientific articles, it remains a rare and questionable choice for formal writing. Prioritize clarity and precision by using more established expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceptionally outstanding

Replaces "far" with "exceptionally" to emphasize the high degree of being outstanding.

remarkably outstanding

Similar to 'exceptionally outstanding', but uses 'remarkably' for a slightly different nuance of impressiveness.

by far the best

Replaces the adjective "outstanding" with "best", emphasizing a comparative superiority.

considerably superior

Uses "superior" instead of "outstanding" and quantifies the difference with "considerably".

noticeably exceptional

Shifts from 'outstanding' to 'exceptional', highlighting the notability of the quality.

unquestionably excellent

Emphasizes the lack of doubt about the excellence.

distinctly impressive

Focuses on the clarity and impact of the impression made.

appreciably better

Highlights the noticeable improvement or higher quality.

strikingly remarkable

Emphasizes the arresting or attention-grabbing nature of the remarkableness.

significantly superior

Similar to 'considerably superior', but uses 'significantly' to indicate a notable degree of superiority.

FAQs

Is "far outstanding" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "far outstanding" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use alternatives like "exceptionally outstanding" or "by far the best".

What's a better way to say something is very outstanding?

Instead of "far outstanding", you could say "exceptionally outstanding", "remarkably outstanding", or "by far the best" depending on the context.

How can I use "far" to describe something of high quality?

You can use "far" with comparative adjectives. For example, instead of "far outstanding", consider using "far better", "far superior", or phrases like "by far the best".

Which is correct, "far outstanding" or "exceptionally outstanding"?

"Exceptionally outstanding" is the correct and more widely accepted phrase. "Far outstanding" is not standard English usage.