honest feedback

USAGE SUMMARY

"honest feedback" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use this phrase when someone is giving you feedback or advice about something, in order to emphasize the fact that the feedback/advice is genuine and sincere. For example: "Thank you for your honest feedback - it's really appreciated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Reason to Seek Honest Feedback.

The New York Times

Q. Do you get honest feedback?

The New York Times

But it's hard to get honest feedback.

The New York Times - Magazine

Eliciting Honest Feedback in Electronic Markets.

Harvard University

Be clear that you want honest feedback.

Harvard Business Review

Reputation mechanisms require correct and honest feedback to function effectively.

Future Generation Computer Systems

How do you make sure you're getting honest feedback?

The New York Times

This Week's Question: Where do you turn for honest feedback?

The New York Times

How do you make sure you get honest feedback?

The New York Times

So it's imperative that we get honest feedback".

The New York Times

Eventually, an agency bothered to give him honest feedback.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When requesting "honest feedback", clearly state the areas you're seeking input on to ensure the feedback is relevant and focused. This avoids broad, potentially unhelpful responses.

Common error

Don't equate "honest feedback" solely with positive reinforcement. Effective "honest feedback" should be constructive and actionable, highlighting areas for improvement and suggesting practical steps.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "honest feedback" functions primarily as a noun phrase. The adjective "honest" modifies the noun "feedback", specifying the type of feedback being referred to. Ludwig AI shows that this phrase is used to describe feedback that is genuine and sincere.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

24%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Science

13%

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "honest feedback" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe truthful and sincere evaluations. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used across diverse contexts, including news, business, and academic settings. It emphasizes the importance of genuine input, free from bias. When seeking "honest feedback", it's crucial to provide context and ensure that the feedback is both truthful and constructive. While the phrase is generally neutral, consider using more formal alternatives like "candid assessment" in professional settings. Remember to create a safe space for sharing to encourage truly "honest feedback".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

candid assessment

Replaces 'feedback' with 'assessment' and 'honest' with 'candid', emphasizing directness.

forthright opinion

Substitutes 'feedback' with 'opinion' and 'honest' with 'forthright', suggesting a clear and direct viewpoint.

frank appraisal

Replaces 'feedback' with 'appraisal' and 'honest' with 'frank', stressing a sincere evaluation.

truthful critique

Substitutes 'feedback' with 'critique' and 'honest' with 'truthful', implying a sincere and accurate evaluation.

sincere evaluation

Replaces 'honest' with 'sincere' and 'feedback' with 'evaluation', conveying genuine judgment.

genuine input

Replaces 'honest' with 'genuine' and 'feedback' with 'input', suggesting authentic contribution.

unbiased perspective

Substitutes 'honest' with 'unbiased' and 'feedback' with 'perspective', implying impartiality.

objective review

Replaces 'honest' with 'objective' and 'feedback' with 'review', conveying impartiality.

straightforward guidance

Substitutes 'honest' with 'straightforward' and 'feedback' with 'guidance', implying clarity.

realistic viewpoint

Replaces 'honest' with 'realistic' and 'feedback' with 'viewpoint', stressing practicality.

FAQs

How do I ask for "honest feedback" without making people uncomfortable?

Frame your request by emphasizing your commitment to improvement and clarifying that you value constructive criticism. For example, say, "I'm looking for "candid assessment", as I'm keen to improve in this area."

What's the difference between "honest feedback" and constructive criticism?

"Honest feedback" emphasizes sincerity and truthfulness in the evaluation, while constructive criticism focuses on providing specific and actionable suggestions for improvement. The best feedback is both "honest feedback" and constructive.

What can I say instead of "honest feedback" to sound more professional?

Consider using phrases like "candid assessment", "forthright opinion", or "frank appraisal" to convey a need for sincere evaluation in a professional context.

How do I ensure I'm getting "honest feedback" and not just what people think I want to hear?

Assure people that you value their true opinions, even if they are critical. Create a safe space for sharing by emphasizing that you are focused on growth and improvement. Also, consider soliciting feedback anonymously to encourage more open responses.