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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
functional well
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
'functional well' is not correct.
The proper phrase is 'functioning well'. You can use this phrase when you want to describe how well something works or operates. For example: "The car is functioning well, so we should be able to make it to our destination without any problems."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(20)
working effectively
operating efficiently
performing adequately
functioning properly
running smoothly
in good working order
in optimal condition
serviceable
up to par
practical well
operational well
functional better
occupational well
technical well
professional well
constituencies well
functional good
well functioning well
functionality well
operate well
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
5 human-written examples
As a whole, the interior is rather plain and functional, well assembled from plastic materials of average quality -- though those who judge sports cars based on interior trim are probably not driving enough.
News & Media
You have to think different, really different, to do functional well.
News & Media
Technically, the HRQoL assessment was functional, well accepted and provided usable HRQoL information.
Patients who had treatment over a longer period of time reported decreased functional well being and total FACT-G scores.
Thus, the final English questionnaire consisted of 34 items and five subscales: oral health, functional well being, social/emotional well-being, school environment and self-image [ 17, 18].
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
55 human-written examples
The effects of yoga on physical function and functional well-being were small.
Science
Further, although effect sizes for many psychosocial outcomes were generally moderate to large, effect sizes of yoga interventions on physical function and functional well-being were small.
Science
The functional well-being of the FACT-G was highly correlated with the role functioning (r = 0.61) and the physical functioning (r = 0.58) of the QLQ-C30.
I know that there are plenty of incredibly functional, well-adjusted, spiritual families raising kids in suburbia.
News & Media
Danes are rightly proud of their rich design heritage, in all its functional, well-crafted, minimalist glory, but the result is that almost every home looks the same.
News & Media
Of real intellectual substance as against the derivative, backward-looking Art Deco, Bauhaus design was dedicated to producing functional, well-made, affordable items for a broad public through cooperation with manufacturers and the use of practical materials.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When describing how well something operates, prefer the phrase "functioning well" or other alternatives like "working effectively". For example, say "The new system is functioning well" instead of "The new system is functional well".
Common error
Avoid using "functional" to modify a verb. "Functional" is an adjective. Instead, use an adverb like "effectively" or rephrase using "functioning well".
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "functional well" attempts to combine an adjective ("functional") with an adverb ("well"). However, this construction is grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI identifies that the correct phrase is "functioning well".
Frequent in
Science
66.66%
News & Media
33.33%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "functional well" is not a grammatically correct phrase in English. As Ludwig AI suggests, the correct phrasing is "functioning well". While some instances of "functional well" appear in various sources, they are considered incorrect. The intended meaning is to describe how something operates effectively, but it's best to use grammatically sound alternatives like "functioning properly" or "working effectively". The phrase's usage is rare and not recommended for formal writing.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
functioning properly
This phrase emphasizes that something is working as intended and without any issues.
operating efficiently
Focuses on the effectiveness of the operation, implying minimal waste or optimal use of resources.
working effectively
Highlights the successful outcome of the work being done.
performing adequately
Indicates that the performance meets the minimum required standards.
running smoothly
Suggests an absence of problems or interruptions in the process.
in good working order
This is a more formal way to say something is functioning well and ready for use.
in optimal condition
Emphasizes that something is in the best possible state for functioning.
serviceable
Implies that something is adequate for its purpose, though perhaps not ideal.
doing its job
A more informal way of saying something is functioning as it should.
up to par
Indicates that something meets the expected standard or level of performance.
FAQs
What is the correct way to say something is working properly?
The correct way is to say something is "functioning well". "Functional" is an adjective, while "functioning" is a verb form that can be modified by the adverb "well".
Is it ever correct to use "functional" to describe how something works?
Yes, but not directly modifying a verb. You can say something has "functional capabilities" or possesses "functional features", using "functional" as an adjective describing capabilities or features.
What are some alternatives to saying something is "functioning well"?
You can use alternatives such as "working effectively", "operating efficiently", or "performing adequately" depending on the context.
What's the difference between saying something is "functional" versus "functioning well"?
"Functional" describes the inherent capability or design of something, while "functioning well" describes how effectively it is currently operating. A device can be functional (designed to work) but not necessarily "functioning well" (actually working effectively).
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested