feels about right

USAGE SUMMARY

"feels about right" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used to express that a situation or decision seems correct or reasonable. For example: "The amount of money we're asking for the house renovation project feels about right."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

It feels about right.

Independent

That feels about right.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Again, that feels about right.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Here the balance feels about right.

The Guardian - Arts

For a professional controversialist, this feels about right.

Independent

All that feels about right for the documentation of such mental instability.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

That felt about right to me".

The Guardian

On another day felt about right for Tottenham.

Independent

To them a constitutional arrangement that gave them about 62% of the political power might feel about right.

The Economist

I remembered useful advice a friend, a former newspaper editor, customarily offered for any kind of public speaking: "Be yourself, plus 15%." That percentage felt about right.

Columbia University

Groups tend to be limited to 20-30 atimetime, which felt about right, with three-hour trips on land morning and afternoon.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "feels about right" when you want to express a subjective assessment that something is generally correct or appropriate, without necessarily implying precise accuracy.

Common error

While "feels about right" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive or imprecise. Vary your language with more specific terms to enhance clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feels about right" functions as an idiomatic expression used to convey a subjective assessment or impression that something is generally correct or appropriate. Ludwig AI shows this use in various contexts, indicating its flexibility in expressing approximate correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Lifestyle

15%

Arts

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "feels about right" is a common idiomatic expression used to communicate a subjective sense of appropriateness or general correctness. Ludwig AI analysis indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used in news, lifestyle, and arts contexts. While widely accepted in neutral and informal settings, it may be too casual for more formal or scientific writing. For more precise language, consider alternatives such as "seems appropriate" or "sounds reasonable".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems appropriate

Focuses on the suitability of something.

seems fitting

Emphasizes the perfect match or alignment.

sounds reasonable

Highlights the logical aspect of the assessment.

appears suitable

Stresses the outward appearance of being right.

that's my assessment

Conveys a personal judgment or evaluation.

that's my take

Indicates a personal perspective or opinion.

appears adequate

Emphasizes a sense of sufficiency and suitability.

seems good enough

Highlights a sense of acceptable sufficiency.

that's my impression

Highlights a subjective evaluation.

seems acceptable

Highlights a sense of adequacy.

FAQs

How can I use "feels about right" in a sentence?

You can use "feels about right" to express a general sense of agreement or suitability, such as "The price they quoted for the service "feels about right" considering the amount of work involved".

What can I say instead of "feels about right"?

You can use alternatives like "seems appropriate", "sounds reasonable", or "appears suitable" depending on the context.

Is it too informal to use "feels about right" in professional writing?

While generally acceptable, "feels about right" is more casual. For formal contexts, consider more precise alternatives such as "seems accurate" or "is appropriate".

What's the difference between "feels about right" and "is exactly right"?

"Feels about right" implies a subjective sense of correctness without demanding precision, whereas "is exactly right" indicates precise accuracy and can be confirmed with data or evidence.