is far from ideal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is far from ideal" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that is not ideal or perfect. Here is an example sentence: "The current economic climate is far from ideal, with rising unemployment and inflation rates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The existing law is far from ideal.

The New York Times

But it is far from ideal.

The Economist

This scattershot approach is far from ideal.

The New York Times

That is far from ideal, however.

The New York Times - Sports

Which is far from ideal.

The Guardian - Sport

This is far from ideal for England.

The Guardian - Sport

But our world is far from ideal.

The Guardian - Opinion

Tarrytown's program is far from ideal.

The New York Times

The 'Deal' is far from ideal.

The Guardian

The doctrine is far from ideal.

The Washington Post

Taking over in the "holiday" period is far from ideal.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is far from ideal" to objectively point out flaws or limitations without being overly critical. It's suitable for scenarios where a situation isn't disastrous, but could certainly be better.

Common error

Avoid using "is far from ideal" when describing catastrophic or severely damaging scenarios. It downplays the severity. Instead, opt for stronger phrases like "is disastrous" or "is unacceptable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is far from ideal" functions as a qualifier, indicating that something does not meet expectations or have significant shortcomings. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is far from ideal" is a versatile and frequently used expression to indicate that something has significant flaws or limitations without being overly critical. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely accepted. While appropriate for many contexts, especially in News & Media and Science, avoid it in situations that require stronger language to convey severity. Consider alternatives like "is not up to par" or "leaves much to be desired" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is not perfect

A straightforward statement acknowledging imperfections.

is not the best option

Focuses on the availability of better alternatives.

falls short of expectations

Highlights a failure to meet anticipated outcomes or standards.

leaves much to be desired

Highlights the lack of satisfaction and suggests that there is significant room for improvement.

is not entirely satisfactory

Indicates a degree of dissatisfaction or incompleteness.

is a less than perfect solution

Highlights the solution as functional, but not without flaws.

is suboptimal

A more technical term indicating that something is less than the best possible.

is not up to par

Emphasizes that something does not meet the required standard or expectation.

is not all it could be

Suggests unrealized potential and areas for improvement.

is deficient in some respects

Points out specific shortcomings or weaknesses.

FAQs

How can I use "is far from ideal" in a sentence?

Use "is far from ideal" to express that a situation or solution has significant drawbacks or limitations. For example, "While the proposed solution is a step forward, it "is far from ideal" due to its high implementation costs".

What are some alternatives to "is far from ideal"?

Alternatives include "is not up to par", "leaves much to be desired", or "is suboptimal", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "is far from ideal" or "is not ideal"?

"Is far from ideal" emphasizes the degree to which the situation deviates from the ideal, suggesting a more significant gap than simply saying "is not ideal". The choice depends on the level of emphasis you want to convey.

When should I avoid using the phrase "is far from ideal"?

Avoid using "is far from ideal" when the situation is catastrophic or presents a critical failure. In such cases, stronger language like "is disastrous" or "is completely unacceptable" would be more appropriate.