flies great

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "flies great" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to describe something that flies well, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The new model of the drone flies great, making it a favorite among hobbyists."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Some of the smallest inhabitants, it turns out, will be soldier flies, great at breaking down compost and a food source for fish and chickens.

The Guardian

The pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) of northern Eurasia and North America forages in small flocks and sometimes flies great distances in winter in search of its natural food (in Europe, mainly mountain ash berries).

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Air Force already flies great big radar planes like the AWACS, which are basically flying air traffic control towers.

Vice

If you want to build a remote control plane, and this is your first, use foam; it is much cheaper, but still flies great!

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

If a student's vial has a frequency of red-eyed flies greater than 1/11, evolution by natural selection has proceeded in this population: evolution is evident through the change in frequency and natural selection is evident because it occurs in a predictable manner (increase in abundance of the red-eye variant).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Furthermore, relative to similarly treated wild-type flies, greater bacterial growth was observed in the thorax-inoculated hep1 flies (Fig. 4B), but not abdomen-inoculated (Fig. 4D) or systemically-infected (Fig. 4F) hep1 flies.

Plosone

For example, hydrogen peroxide feeding produced a relatively more erratic flight path (greater heading and average heading values) while MnSOD over-expression caused relatively faster-moving flies (greater speed and average speed values) (Table 2A, 2C).

Plosone

We labeled flies greater than 18 days of age as old.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Within a range of caloric intake above starvation for flies, greater calorie consumption leads to higher body weight, and a higher rate of reproduction but a shorter life span [ 42].

Aging

Pointed wings and a long tail usually are found in species that fly great distances; rounded wings and blunt tails typify the more adept climbers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"We've had commanders who had plenty of personal angst in their lives, and they flew great flights," Mr. Hale said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the quality of flight, use the adverb "well" instead of the adjective "great". For example, say "the plane flies well" instead of "flies great".

Common error

Avoid using "great" as an adverb to describe how something flies. "Great" is an adjective and should not be used to modify a verb like "flies". Instead, use an adverb such as "well" or "excellently".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flies great" functions as a descriptor of flight quality. However, according to Ludwig AI, it is not grammatically correct in standard English, as it misuses the adjective "great" instead of an appropriate adverb.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "flies great" aims to describe something that flies well, it's grammatically incorrect as it uses the adjective "great" instead of an adverb. Ludwig AI marks this usage as non-standard. It appears infrequently across various sources, including News & Media and Encyclopedias. For grammatically sound alternatives, consider using phrases like "flies well" or "has excellent flight performance" for clear and correct communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flies well

Replaces the adjective "great" with the adverb "well" to correct the grammar.

flies excellently

Substitutes "great" with a more formal adverb, emphasizing superior flight performance.

has excellent flight

Rephrases to focus on the quality of the flight itself.

performs well in the air

Offers a broader description that includes aspects beyond just the act of flying.

demonstrates superior flight capabilities

A more formal and technical way of describing excellent flying ability.

is aerodynamically sound

Focuses on the design aspect that enables good flight.

exhibits exceptional airworthiness

Highlights the safe and reliable aspects of flight performance.

maintains stable flight

Emphasizes the steadiness and control during flying.

navigates with precision

Highlights the accuracy and skill in directing the flight.

soars effortlessly

Emphasizes the ease and grace of the flight.

FAQs

How can I correctly describe something that flies well?

Instead of saying "flies great", use phrases like "flies well", "has excellent flight performance", or "flies excellently".

Is "flies great" grammatically correct?

No, "flies great" is not grammatically correct. The word "great" is an adjective, and you need an adverb (like "well") to modify the verb "flies".

What are some formal alternatives to "flies great"?

For formal contexts, consider phrases such as "demonstrates superior flight capabilities" or "exhibits exceptional airworthiness" instead of "flies great".

What is the difference between "flies great" and "flies well"?

"Flies great" is grammatically incorrect because it uses an adjective to modify a verb. "Flies well" is the grammatically correct alternative, using an adverb to properly modify the verb.