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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
it is only patchy
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "it is only patchy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is inconsistent, incomplete, or lacking in coverage or quality. Example: "The report on the project's progress is only patchy, making it difficult to assess the overall success."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Science
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
1 human-written examples
For now it is only patchy progress.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
On March 30th the exchange announced that, by the end of this year, it would start trading in plastics futures, the first such contracts in the world.Although sales of plastics amount to $120 billion a year, there has so far been only patchy hedging against changes in prices.
News & Media
Tumour cells, where there was only patchy weak staining, were counted as negative; cells with uniformly clear staining, regardless of its intensity, were counted as positive.
Science
In contrast, in DMPP- and nicotine-pretreated mice there were only minor patchy spots of mild necrosis in various areas of the liver tissue at 3 h.
Science
And it is a patchy selection.
News & Media
In the poor one it is too patchy.
News & Media
Again, due to the unavoidable, incomplete sampling and sequencing of influenza A(H3N2) viruses worldwide, this support for these hypotheses ('migration' and 'latency'), as presented here, is admittedly, only patchy at best.
Science
It is patchy, scraggly, vaguely pubic — a look that only Bob Dylan should attempt, if even Bob Dylan should.
News & Media
It was patchy but some of the patches of bleached corals were very extensive.
News & Media
Filaggrin was only expressed in a patchy fashion in psoriasis lesions, whereas it formed a continuous layer at the transition from the stratum granulosum to stratum corneum in both non lesional psoriatic and normal skin (Fig. 3).
Science
This clearly shows that changes occurring in MSC in vivo are only insufficiently described by patchy examinations of MSC, which are replicatively aged in culture.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "it is only patchy", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being described as inconsistent or incomplete. This prevents ambiguity and strengthens the overall clarity of your writing.
Common error
Avoid using "it is only patchy" without providing specific details about what aspects are patchy. Without context, the statement can be vague and uninformative.
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
4.3/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "it is only patchy" functions as a descriptive statement. It serves to qualify the extent or nature of something, indicating that while present, it lacks consistency or completeness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in written English.
Frequent in
News & Media
35%
Science
35%
Formal & Business
10%
Less common in
Academia
5%
Encyclopedias
5%
Wiki
5%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "it is only patchy" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English that describes something as inconsistent, incomplete, or uneven. Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as correct and suitable for written English. It finds use across various domains, including news, media, and scientific contexts. While not overly formal, it maintains a neutral register. For situations requiring greater formality, synonyms like "it is merely inconsistent" or "it is somewhat sporadic" could be preferred. The key to effective use is providing sufficient context to clarify what aspects are being described as patchy, preventing vagueness and enhancing understanding.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
it's only spotty
Uses "spotty" as a synonym for "patchy", maintaining a similar level of informality.
it's merely inconsistent
Replaces "patchy" with "inconsistent", focusing on the lack of uniformity.
it's just uneven
Simplifies the phrase to highlight the lack of uniformity or smoothness.
it's somewhat sporadic
Uses "sporadic" to suggest that the occurrence is infrequent and irregular.
it is rather intermittent
Replaces "patchy" with "intermittent", implying that something stops and starts at irregular intervals.
it is fairly uneven
Focuses on the lack of evenness, implying irregularity in quality or distribution.
it is solely fragmented
Emphasizes the broken or disjointed nature of something.
it's sparsely distributed
Highlights the thin or scattered distribution of something.
it is incompletely covered
Focuses on the lack of full or thorough coverage.
it's just rudimentary
Implies that something is basic and underdeveloped, rather than evenly distributed.
FAQs
How can I rephrase "it is only patchy" to sound more formal?
In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "it is merely inconsistent", "it is somewhat sporadic", or "it is incompletely covered".
What does "it is only patchy" mean?
The phrase "it is only patchy" means that something is inconsistent, incomplete, or uneven in its coverage or quality. It suggests that while something may exist, it does not do so in a uniform or comprehensive manner.
Is "it is only patchy" grammatically correct?
Yes, "it is only patchy" is grammatically correct. The structure follows standard English grammar rules, where "it" is the subject, "is" is the verb, "only" is an adverb, and "patchy" is an adjective describing the subject.
What are some common synonyms for "patchy" when using the phrase "it is only patchy"?
Common synonyms for "patchy" in this context include: "spotty", "uneven", "intermittent", and "fragmented".
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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
84%
Authority and reliability
4.3/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested