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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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it is only patchy

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE 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

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For now it is only patchy progress.

News & Media

The Economist

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

The Economist

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.

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.

And it is a patchy selection.

News & Media

The New York Times

In the poor one it is too patchy.

News & Media

The Economist

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

Plosone

It is patchy, scraggly, vaguely pubic — a look that only Bob Dylan should attempt, if even Bob Dylan should.

News & Media

The New York Times

It was patchy but some of the patches of bleached corals were very extensive.

News & Media

Huffington Post

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

Plosone

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.

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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.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

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.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

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.

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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Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

4.3/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: