it performed great

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it performed great" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "it performed well." Example: "The new software was tested extensively, and it performed well during all evaluations."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It performed great, if you like to fall asleep while listening to the loud whooshing of a Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade balloon being deflated by someone snoring.

The New Yorker

I flew it mostly indoors — and it performed great.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"He performed great.

The New York Times - Sports

"The doctors performed great feats of surgery and roamed the cities, looking for the sick.

The Guardian - Arts

Here the sage punished his body and performed great feats of austerity.

The New Yorker

They faced adversity and performed great golf to beat a very strong US team".

The Guardian - Sport

"The car performed great, even though we couldn't use our speed advantage.

The New York Times

Of course, those who were young had horrible experiences in the Second World War as well and performed great feats of courage and self-sacrifice.

The Guardian - Opinion

He said, for example, that "in the past Stalin undoubtedly performed great services to the party, to the working class and to the international workers' movement".

The Guardian

However, in the past Stalin undoubtedly performed great services to the party, to the working class and to the international workers' movement.

The Guardian

They performed great compositions by Johann Strauss II, Handel, Mozart, Ravel, Verdi, Sorozabal, Floyd, Picker, Sondheim, Gordon, Weill and Bernstein with Pacien Mazzagatti, James Meena, Steven Osgood, Imre Pallo and Gary Thor Wedow conducting the New York City Opera Orchestra.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you intend to use an adjective, try "it was a great performance" instead.

Common error

Avoid using the adjective "great" to describe how something performed. Remember that adverbs (like "well") modify verbs, while adjectives modify nouns. Instead, use the adverb "well" to accurately describe the performance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it performed great" is typically intended to function as a descriptive statement regarding the quality of something's execution or operation. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is not grammatically sound, with "great" incorrectly modifying the verb "performed".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it performed great" is used to express satisfaction with how something functioned, but is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that "well" should be used instead of "great" after "performed". While the phrase appears in some news and media outlets, it is generally best to avoid it in formal writing and speaking. More appropriate alternatives include "it performed well", "it functioned admirably", or "it operated effectively". Remember that "well" is the correct adverb to modify the verb "performed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it performed well

Replaces the grammatically incorrect "great" with the correct adverb "well".

it functioned admirably

Substitutes both "performed" and "great" with synonyms that convey high performance in a grammatically sound way.

it operated effectively

Replaces "performed" with "operated" and "great" with "effectively", focusing on the effective operation of something.

it executed flawlessly

Replaces "performed" with "executed" and "great" with "flawlessly", emphasizing the perfect execution of a task.

it held up excellently

Emphasizes the endurance and quality of the item's performance over time, replacing the original phrasing.

it behaved outstandingly

Uses "behaved" instead of "performed" and "outstandingly" instead of "great" to describe a positive performance.

it showcased excellence

Transforms the sentence to focus on the demonstration of excellence, which is a more formal and nuanced expression.

it realized expectations

Shifts the focus to meeting or exceeding expectations, offering a different perspective on performance.

it showed marked improvement

Indicates a notable advancement in performance, suitable for situations where there's a contrast to previous performance.

it exceeded all expectations

Emphasizes the performance surpassing what was anticipated, highlighting an exceptional outcome.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say something performed successfully?

The grammatically correct way is to say "it performed well". The word "well" is an adverb, which is needed to modify the verb "performed". Saying "it performed great" is technically incorrect.

Can I use an adjective instead of an adverb to describe performance?

Yes, but you'd need to rephrase the sentence. For example, instead of "it performed great", you could say "it was a "great performance"", using the adjective "great" to describe the noun "performance".

What are some alternatives to "it performed great" that sound more professional?

Alternatives include "it performed well", "it functioned admirably", or "it operated effectively". These options are grammatically correct and suitable for formal contexts.

Is "it performed great" ever acceptable in spoken English?

While "it performed great" might be heard in informal conversation, it's generally best to avoid it in writing and formal speaking. Sticking to "it performed well" ensures clarity and grammatical correctness.