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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
it's not very effective
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesAlternative expressions(20)
underperforms
inefficient
it is ineffective
it's not particularly helpful
misses the mark
fails to meet expectations
performs poorly
worse than anticipated
falls short of expectations
falls short
disappointing results
is deficient
is not up to par
lags behind
lower than expected
does not meet expectations
is worse than anticipated
is below expectation
wasteful
unproductive
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
13 human-written examples
"It's not very effective". California's five-member Board of Equalization is the only elected tax commission in the nation.
News & Media
But it's not very effective at any of these.
News & Media
"You can wear a breast plate, but it's not very effective to punch someone on the breast.
News & Media
It's not very effective, with walls simply shifting migrants elsewhere, and often forces them into the hands of smugglers.
News & Media
This type of pushback may be fun, as Treacher said, but it's not very effective, and anyone who thinks otherwise is missing the point.
News & Media
"It's an industry that is very skilled at talking about the factors that produce a result," he said, "but it's not very effective.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
47 human-written examples
When it was used by Spain during its housing bubble, it was not very effective.
News & Media
For instance, acetone is suitable in solubilizing chemical impurities, due to its polar characteristics, and it's easy to be removed, due to its low boiling point, but it is not very effective with microbiological impurities, and ethanol, isopropyl alcohol or a mixture of the above solvents might be preferable.
But it is not very effective.
News & Media
It is not very effective if they are subjected to dangerous buses that they may be riding on".
News & Media
"It is suitable for mild to moderate erectile dysfunction - that is about 80% of GP patients," says Dean. "It is not very effective for chronic sufferers, for men who never ever get an erection".
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Prefer the full form 'it is not very effective' in formal academic or scientific writing to maintain a professional tone.
Common error
Writers often use "it's not very effective" when they actually mean it is slow or wasteful. If the goal is reached but costs too much, consider using "it's not very efficient" instead.
Source & Trust
92%
Authority and reliability
4.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
This phrase serves as a negative predicative adjective structure. According to Ludwig, it functions to qualify a subject (represented by 'it') by denying a high degree of its effectiveness. The use of the adverb 'very' acts as a hedge, providing a more nuanced evaluation than a simple 'not effective'.
Frequent in
News & Media
48%
Science
32%
Wiki
12%
Less common in
Formal & Business
5%
Encyclopedias
2%
Social Media
1%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "it's not very effective" is a versatile and essential tool in the English language for providing measured feedback. Ludwig AI shows that it is a 'Common' expression favored by high-authority sources like The New York Times and The Guardian to describe failures in policy, medicine, and technology. It strikes a balance between being clear and being nuanced, making it a safe choice for both professional journalism and scientific discussion. While it is grammatically correct and widely accepted, writers should be mindful of the contraction in strictly formal settings and consider more specific alternatives like "underperforms" or "inefficient" when technical precision is required.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
it is ineffective
More formal and definitive than the negated 'effective'.
it doesn't work well
More informal and functional in focus.
it isn't very successful
Shifts focus from the property of being 'effective' to the state of 'success'.
it yields poor results
Focuses on the outcome rather than the quality of the process.
it lacks efficiency
Specifically targets the resource-to-output ratio.
it's failing to produce results
Suggests a current and ongoing state of failure.
it's not particularly helpful
Softer and more polite for interpersonal communication.
it's somewhat useless
Stronger and more dismissive in tone.
it underperforms
Technical or financial term for failing to meet expectations.
it is of limited use
Suggests some utility remains but is highly restricted.
FAQs
How to use "it's not very effective" in a sentence?
You can use it to describe a strategy, tool, or medicine that fails to reach its goal, such as: 'The new policy was implemented last month, but "it's not very effective" in reducing traffic.'
What is the difference between "it's not very effective" and "it's ineffective"?
While "it's ineffective" is a binary statement meaning it does not work at all, "it's not very effective" allows for the possibility that it works slightly but fails to meet the desired standard.
Is "it's not very effective" formal enough for a report?
It is acceptable for news reports and business summaries, but for high-level academic journals, you should use the non-contracted form "it is not very effective" or a more precise verb like "it underperforms".
What can I say instead of "it's not very effective"?
Depending on the context, you can use "it's not working", "it lacks impact", or "it is fruitless".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
92%
Authority and reliability
4.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested