less than good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less than good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not satisfactory or below an acceptable standard. Example: "The service at the restaurant was less than good, which was disappointing given the high expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

We did less than good".

The New York Times

If they thought it was less than good, then I'm a less than good person".

The Guardian - Film

This well-intentioned production is, ultimately, less than "Good".

The Guardian

Not that the individual works were less than good, and the performances were often excellent.

The New York Times - Arts

Ms. Kaplan's prose is inquisitive and supple; she's never less than good company.

The New York Times - Books

Overall, almost a third of secondary schools in the north-east are less than good.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

At times, she believes that being good to Jeanne has made her a less-than-good mother to her own four girls.

The New York Times

Taking advantage of a market in turmoil, GE is also entering the dead-beat business;lending to less-than-good credit risks.

Forbes

The less-than-good news is that these programmes are also very competitive, have early closing dates, and require you to fill in lengthy application forms.

Science Magazine

In fact, bad, or less-than-good service seems to be the norm, these days.

Huffington Post

That's great news for Harper's re-election campaign, less-than-good-news if anything at all bad happens to Canada's economy.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "less than good", consider the context and choose a more specific synonym if possible. For example, instead of "less than good service", use "slow service" or "unhelpful service" for clarity.

Common error

While "less than good" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound vague. Replace it with stronger, more descriptive adjectives like "poor", "inadequate", or "substandard" for impactful prose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than good" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It serves to qualify the noun by indicating a deficiency in quality or performance. Ludwig AI demonstrates this with examples such as "less than good service" or "less than good health."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

34%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "less than good" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adjective phrase that expresses mild dissatisfaction or criticism. Ludwig AI confirms that it is often employed to describe something that falls slightly below expectations without being entirely unacceptable. While versatile enough for neutral contexts like news and general conversation, more precise language may be favored in formal academic or professional writing. Therefore, depending on the effect you are trying to give to your discourse, you may use more specific and appropriate wording choosing among the alternatives provided by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsatisfactory

Directly states that something does not meet expectations or requirements, making it "less than good" in terms of satisfaction.

subpar

A more concise and informal way of saying "less than good", implying a performance or quality below the expected standard.

not ideal

Suggests that while something may be acceptable, it is not the best or most desirable option; therefore, "less than good".

not up to par

Suggests that something doesn't meet the required or expected level of quality or performance. It's slightly more idiomatic.

mediocre

Describes something as average or ordinary, implying it is "less than good" because it lacks excellence.

deficient

Implies a lack of something essential or necessary, making it "less than good" in a critical way.

inadequate

Similar to deficient, suggesting that something is not sufficient or good enough for a particular purpose.

lacking

Highlights the absence of a specific quality or component, making the overall result "less than good".

inferior

Indicates that something is lower in rank, status, or quality compared to something else, thus "less than good".

second-rate

Suggests that something is of poor quality, below standard, and therefore "less than good".

FAQs

How can I use "less than good" in a sentence?

You can use "less than good" to describe something that is not up to the expected standard or quality. For example, "The performance was "less than good", and the team needs to improve."

What's a more concise way to say "less than good"?

Consider using alternatives like "subpar", "inadequate", or "unsatisfactory" depending on the specific context you are describing.

Is "less than good" formal or informal?

"Less than good" is relatively neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in formal writing, more precise alternatives might be preferred for greater clarity and impact.

What's the difference between "less than good" and "not good"?

"Less than good" implies that something falls slightly below an acceptable level, while "not good" is a more general and direct statement. The former can sometimes be perceived as a more polite or understated way of expressing disapproval compared to the latter.