is not very

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is not very" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to express a moderate degree of negation or to indicate that something is below a certain standard. Example: "The weather is not very pleasant today." Alternative expressions include "is somewhat" and "is rather."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Marta is not very big.

The New York Times - Sports

"It is not very subtle".

The Economist

That is not very comforting.

The New York Times

The answer is: not very.

The New York Times

He is not very big.

Independent

She is not very passionate.

The New Yorker

Which is not very.

The Guardian

The answer is: not very deep.

The New Yorker

"That is not very good democracy".

The New York Times

This objection, though, is not very convincing.

The Economist

The answer is, not very well.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider whether a more precise adjective (e.g., "inefficient" instead of "not very efficient") might improve clarity.

Common error

Writers often use "is not very" as a hedge when they could be more assertive. If a result is definitively poor, avoid softening it with "very" unless you specifically intend to use litotes for rhetorical effect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is not very" functions as a hedged negation. It combines the copulative verb "is" with the negative particle "not" and the intensifier "very" acting as a downtoner. According to Ludwig AI, this structure allows writers to negate a quality while implying a spectrum of degree rather than a binary state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is not very" is a versatile and highly common staple of English prose. Ludwig AI's data shows that it is extensively used by elite publications like The New York Times and The Economist to provide a softened, more nuanced form of negation. Rather than a harsh binary "not", this phrase suggests a degree of a quality that exists but fails to meet a significant benchmark. It is particularly effective in scientific writing to describe results that lack statistical significance and in journalism to offer measured critiques. While it is grammatically flawless, writers should use it intentionally to ensure their tone remains precise and avoid using it as a generic filler when a more specific adjective would be more powerful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is not particularly

Provides a slightly more formal and precise way to express a lack of a specific quality.

is not especially

Functionally identical but often used to highlight a lack of a standout feature.

is not notably

Professional alternative used to describe a lack of significant or visible traits.

is hardly

Suggests a stronger degree of negation, almost approaching 'not at all'.

isn't exactly

Used often in a conversational or slightly ironic way to contradict an assumption.

is not quite

Implies that something almost reaches a standard but falls short.

is scarcely

Adds a literary or more formal tone, emphasizing the rarity of the condition.

is barely

Focuses on the minimal presence of a quality rather than its absence.

is relatively little

Shifts the focus to a quantitative measure of the attribute.

is far from

A much stronger negation, indicating a significant distance from the described state.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "is not very"?

You can use alternatives like "is not particularly", "is hardly", or "is not especially" to vary your tone and precision.

How do I use "is not very" in a sentence?

It is typically followed by an adjective. For example, Ludwig shows examples like "The balance is not very good" or "It is not very easy" to describe a moderate lack of a quality.

Is "is not very" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is a perfectly correct construction. Ludwig AI confirms its high frequency in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Economist.

What is the difference between "is not very" and "is not"?

While "is not" is a direct negation, "is not very" acts as a downtoner, suggesting that the quality exists in a small amount but is below a desired threshold. For a more formal alternative to the direct negation, you might use "is far from".