it looks decent

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "It looks decent" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is a casual way to describe something that looks reasonably good. For example, "I bought a new pair of shoes on sale and it looks decent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"We ought to call it something else until it looks decent".

The New York Times

The build quality is solid, it looks decent, the battery life stretches to almost two days without having to activate battery saving modes and the screen is very good.

The Guardian - Tech

I say "might" because although it looks decent, the specs really are kind of anemic.

TechCrunch

It looks decent, and it'll hold plenty of swag if you bring it to E3 or PAX.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"I have this Spring been new planking the yard," she one day boasted, and "am Painting the Front of the House to make it look Decent that I may not be Ashamed when any Boddy Inquiers for Dr Franklins Sister".

The New Yorker

So is it just the trailer that is making it look decent?

TechCrunch

It looked decent enough, but the whole solar charging thing made it seem a little gimmicky.

TechCrunch

It looked decent, but I was still pretty convinced that the white sweater - cotton or not - had looked just as good.

Huffington Post

Some of it looked decent, and it wasn't altogether inedible, but the textures were all wrong and almost everything came out dry, rubbery, and grayish.

Vice

It's tough, but when you can pull it off and make it look decent, through practice and determination and love of art and simple, unabashed will, there's little else like it.

Huffington Post

Make it look nice; a decent theme should not be aggressive to the eyes.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something's appearance, follow "it looks decent" with a 'but' clause to introduce limitations or drawbacks, e.g., "It looks decent, but the specs are kind of anemic."

Common error

Avoid using "it looks decent" in formal reports or academic papers where a more sophisticated vocabulary is expected. Alternatives like "it appears satisfactory" or "it presents well" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it looks decent" primarily functions as a subjective assessment of visual appearance. It indicates a level of satisfaction that is above average but not exceptionally impressive, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it looks decent" is a commonly used expression to convey that something is satisfactory in appearance without being particularly outstanding. Grammatically correct and frequently found in news and media sources, as well as on wikis, it serves as a casual assessment of visual quality. While Ludwig confirms its acceptability, it's important to reserve this phrase for informal contexts, opting for more sophisticated language in formal writing. As such, alternatives like "it appears satisfactory" or "it presents well" may be preferred in professional settings. This makes "it looks decent" versatile for everyday conversation but less suitable for formal reports or academic papers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it appears satisfactory

Changes the verb from 'looks' to 'appears', adding a slightly more formal tone and implying a judgment based on observation.

it seems acceptable

Replaces 'looks decent' with 'seems acceptable', suggesting that it meets a minimum requirement rather than being particularly good.

it presents well

Emphasizes the manner in which something is displayed or shown, focusing on the presentation aspect.

it has a good appearance

Uses a more descriptive phrase to highlight the visual aspect of something, suitable for formal contexts.

it is visually appealing

Focuses specifically on the aesthetic quality, suggesting it's attractive to the eye.

it is reasonably attractive

Indicates a moderate level of attractiveness, implying it's neither exceptionally beautiful nor ugly.

it's not bad to look at

Uses a negative construction to express that it is acceptable in appearance, often used informally.

it offers a pleasing aesthetic

Highlights the artistic or beautiful nature of its appearance, suitable for design or art contexts.

it makes a fair impression

Emphasizes the positive impact on one's perception or feeling upon seeing it.

it has a passable facade

Focuses on the external appearance, implying that while it may not be exceptional, it meets basic standards.

FAQs

What does "it looks decent" mean?

The phrase "it looks decent" means that something appears to be satisfactory or acceptable in its appearance. It implies a moderate level of approval without strong enthusiasm.

What can I say instead of "it looks decent"?

You can use alternatives like "it appears satisfactory", "it seems acceptable", or "it presents well" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "it looks decent" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "it looks decent" is generally more suitable for informal conversations. In formal writing, consider using phrases such as "it has a good appearance" or "it presents well".

How can I use "it looks decent" in a sentence?

You can use "it looks decent" to describe the appearance of various things. For example, "The build quality is solid, "it looks decent", the battery life stretches to almost two days" or "The remake looks decent (it's no Bionic Commando, but what is?)."