is pretty large

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is pretty large" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the size of an object, area, or quantity in a casual or informal context. Example: "The new warehouse is pretty large, allowing us to store more inventory than before."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

"His head is pretty large".

The New York Times

The potential, he said, is "pretty large".

The New York Times

The number of colleges that teach astronomy is pretty large.

Cornell University

A. There were six founders, which is pretty large for a founding group.

The New York Times

No matter how hard the top is, the spread is pretty large.

The New York Times - Sports

Our active repertoire is pretty large; we have more songs than ever that we're really confident performing at any time.

Princeton University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

If they were countries, they would be pretty large economies.

The Guardian - Tech

"We're a small tourism destination and our competitors are pretty large," Ms. Carnegie said.

The New York Times

You can imagine it was pretty large and heavy, balanced on the back.

The New York Times

"It's pretty large and filled with antiques," the client said.

The New York Times

I found many of the small plates to be pretty large.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is pretty large" when you want to describe something as being noticeably bigger than average, but without being overly formal or technical. It's suitable for conversational writing and less formal reports.

Common error

Avoid using "is pretty large" in highly formal or academic contexts. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "is substantial", "is significant", or "is extensive" for greater impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is pretty large" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or noun phrase to indicate a size or extent that is above average. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in written English, indicating general acceptance.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

23%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is pretty large" is a commonly used adjective phrase to describe something of considerable size or scale. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and general usability. While appropriate for many contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Science, it's best to avoid it in highly formal or technical writing. More precise alternatives like "substantial" or "extensive" may be preferable in those situations. The phrase functions descriptively and conveys information in a relatively informal way. Numerous authoritative sources such as The New York Times and Forbes employ this phrase, demonstrating its wide acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is quite substantial

Replaces "pretty large" with a more formal adjective, "substantial".

is reasonably big

Uses a more casual synonym "big", while retaining the qualification "reasonably".

is fairly significant

Substitutes "pretty large" with "fairly significant", emphasizing importance as well as size.

is considerably huge

Replaces "pretty large" with "considerably huge", amplifying the size.

is impressively massive

Replaces with "impressively massive", highlighting the scale and impact.

is remarkably immense

Uses "remarkably immense", suggesting an extraordinary degree of largeness.

is notably expansive

Employs a more formal and descriptive term "expansive" instead of "pretty large".

is substantially great

Substitutes "pretty large" with "substantially great", focusing on the degree.

is widely extensive

Replaces with "widely extensive", emphasizing reach and scope.

is surprisingly vast

Uses "surprisingly vast", adding an element of unexpected scale.

FAQs

What does "is pretty large" mean?

The phrase "is pretty large" means that something is notably bigger than average or expected. It indicates a considerable size or scale without being overly precise.

How can I use "is pretty large" in a sentence?

You can use "is pretty large" to describe the size of objects, areas, quantities, or even abstract concepts. For example: "The company's market share "is pretty large" compared to its competitors."

What are some alternatives to "is pretty large"?

Some alternatives to "is pretty large" include "is quite substantial", "is fairly significant", or "is considerably huge", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "is pretty large" suitable for formal writing?

While "is pretty large" is acceptable in many contexts, it may be too informal for academic or professional writing. In such cases, consider using alternatives like "is substantially great" or "is notably expansive".