generically good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "generically good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is generally positive or acceptable without being specific or exceptional. Example: "The feedback on the product was generically good, indicating that most users found it satisfactory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

What the National Reading Panel definitely did not say was that any particular approach to phonics teaching was effective, only that phonics was a generically good idea.

HuffPost

Those are generically good answers, but to find your company's sweet spot you'll need to think about your specific audience and what they want.

Huffington Post

Parsons et al. (2010) suggest that "data use in its own right provides a form of review", and go on to point out that the context of reuse demonstrates that the data is not generically "good", but fit for some particular purpose.

F1000Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Tormented follows the pattern well enough, with scary queen bee April Pearson ("Someone's discovered Primark," she snipes) and Stormbreaker's Alex Pettyfer as generically good-looking as any American jock.

The Guardian - Film

And, strangely, "Glee" undermines its own feel-good mission, rounding out the choir with generically good-looking ringers imported from the football team and cheerleading squad, leaving the impression that a show choir — even a cast on a television series about a show choir — can't sustain itself without an injection of cool kids.

The New York Times - Arts

Small but perfectly formed Tamarama Beach (aka "Glamarama") is next − a deep tongue of sand popular with the generically good-looking.

BBC

Sure, Trudeau is generically good-looking, if you're into a thick, full head of curly hair, eyebrows on fleek, a strong jawline, and chiseled abs.

Vice

Llewelyn Moss, the man who picked up the satchel, the generically required good man who did one thing wrong, is a Vietnam veteran of 36 (which must place the action in the mid-1980s), untraumatised by combat, a welder happily married.

The Guardian - Books

[60, Equation (1)] generically defines effective SINR as follows: (24).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Just as Republic 3's taxonomy left the imitation it defined looking like a freakish variety of narration, this use of a word both generically and specially excludes good imitation as the exception and the problem case.

SEP

Thus, this paper will compare different types of visual (distance dependent) and non-visual (touch, angle configuration) rewards showing that, with this combination of methods, it is generically possible to find a good solution within about 20 trials.

Biological Cybernetics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "generically good" when you want to convey that something is positive or acceptable without being particularly outstanding or tailored to a specific need. It's useful when describing widespread appeal or basic functionality.

Common error

Avoid using "generically good" as a default descriptor when more precise adjectives would better capture the specific qualities of something. Overuse can make your writing seem bland and uninspired. Instead of saying a product is "generically good", describe what makes it specifically useful or appealing to its target audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "generically good" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that it possesses a general level of goodness or acceptability, without being particularly outstanding or tailored. Ludwig AI indicates that this is grammatically correct and acceptable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "generically good" is used to describe something that is generally positive or acceptable without being particularly outstanding. According to Ludwig AI, this is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While not extremely common, it appears in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, primarily within the contexts of news and media and scientific discussions. It's best practice to use it when describing widespread appeal or basic functionality, while avoiding overuse in place of more specific praise. Alternatives include "generally positive" and "broadly acceptable". It is considered a neutral register, suitable for general discussions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

generally positive

Emphasizes the overall positive aspect, but is less specific about the lack of exceptional qualities.

broadly acceptable

Focuses on the acceptability of something to a wide audience, highlighting its general approval.

passably adequate

Suggests that something meets a basic standard, but isn't particularly impressive.

satisfactory overall

Highlights that something meets a certain level of satisfaction without excelling.

ordinarily fine

Indicates that something is good in a normal, unremarkable way.

commonly suitable

Emphasizes the widespread suitability of something for a particular purpose.

typically satisfactory

Highlights the usual or expected level of satisfaction.

consistently decent

Focuses on the reliable and steady quality of something, though without any outstanding features.

conventionally acceptable

Indicates that something meets established norms and expectations.

quite alright

A more informal way of saying that something is good enough, without being exceptional.

FAQs

What does "generically good" mean?

"Generically good" means something is generally positive or acceptable without possessing any unique or outstanding qualities. It implies a basic level of satisfaction.

When is it appropriate to use "generically good" in writing?

It's appropriate when you want to describe something that meets a general standard of quality or acceptability but doesn't excel in any particular area. Consider using more specific adjectives if you want to highlight particular strengths.

What are some alternatives to "generically good"?

You can use alternatives such as "generally positive", "broadly acceptable", or "satisfactory overall". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey. Check out /s/generally+positive, /s/broadly+acceptable or /s/satisfactory+overall for more ideas.

Is "generically good" the same as "specifically good"?

No, "generically good" implies a general level of quality without unique characteristics, while "specifically good" highlights particular strengths or suitability for a particular purpose. They are opposites in many contexts.