level of acceptable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "level of acceptable" is not correct in standard English; it should be "level of acceptability." You can use it when discussing standards or criteria that are deemed acceptable in a particular context.
Example: "The level of acceptability for safety measures in this project must be clearly defined."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

Who should decide the level of acceptable non-zero risk?

The New Yorker

He has since agreed to repay some gardening expenses after Sir Thomas Legg set the retrospective level of acceptable claims for gardening at £1,000 a year.

The Guardian

As my faults mounted during the test, I prayed that we would turn back toward the test centre before I surpassed the maximum level of acceptable faultiness.

The Guardian - Opinion

There is no standard level of acceptable risk within the humanitarian industry and attitudes towards risk can vary extensively between agencies.

The Guardian

He has repaid £910 after Sir Thomas Legg in October, who set the retrospective level of acceptable claims for gardening at £1,000 a year.

The Guardian

Within the pages of calculations, produced for Lend Lease by property agent Savills, the level of "acceptable" profit is fixed at 25% – a proportion that equates to around £300m.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

There are three levels of acceptable business sectors.

The Guardian

The World Anti-Doping Agency declined to be interviewed for this story, but said in a statement that in 2013 they raised the levels of acceptable marijuana in an athlete's system so that out-of-competition use would not disqualify them.

The Guardian

Related topics, such as levels of acceptable risk, are also discussed.

Offshore Safety Management Implementing a SEMS Program

However, the study neglected to recognise that workers and residents are assigned different levels of acceptable risk in the US.

Environmental Sciences Europe

The characterization and cleanup of hazardous waste sites require data that meet site-specific levels of acceptable quality if scientifically supportable decisions are to be made.

Analytica Chimica Acta

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using the correct form "level of acceptability" in formal writing to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "level of acceptable" as it's grammatically incorrect. Always use "level of acceptability" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "level of acceptable" functions as a noun phrase acting as a modifier. Although grammatically incorrect, it's often used to define a specific threshold or standard that is deemed permissible. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct form should be "level of acceptability".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "level of acceptable" is a commonly used expression that, according to Ludwig AI, is grammatically incorrect. The correct form should be "level of acceptability." Despite this error, the phrase appears frequently in various contexts, including science, news and media. While the phrase serves to define the degree to which something is considered adequate or satisfactory, it's essential to recognize and avoid this grammatical inaccuracy, particularly in formal writing. Alternatives like "acceptable level", "permissible degree", and "satisfactory threshold" can provide grammatically sound substitutes. Always prefer "level of acceptability" to maintain precision and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acceptable level

Reorders the words to create a more standard adjective-noun structure.

permissible degree

Replaces "level" with "degree" and "acceptable" with "permissible" to convey a similar meaning with different wording.

tolerable extent

Substitutes both nouns and adjective for slightly different connotation.

allowable limit

Replaces "level" with "limit" and "acceptable" with "allowable", focusing on constraints.

satisfactory threshold

Replaces both words to emphasize meeting a certain requirement.

admissible standard

Substitutes "acceptable" with "admissible" and "level" with "standard," indicating a formal criterion.

reasonable extent

Replaces acceptable with reasonable.

appropriate grade

Replaces acceptable with appropriate and level with grade.

validated margin

Replaces level with margin and acceptable with validated.

threshold of acceptability

Emphasizes the point at which something becomes acceptable.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "level of acceptable"?

The grammatically correct phrasing is "level of acceptability". The term "acceptable" is an adjective, while "acceptability" is a noun, which is needed after the preposition "of".

Is "level of acceptable" ever appropriate to use?

While commonly used, especially in technical fields, "level of acceptable" is grammatically incorrect. In formal writing, it's best to use "level of acceptability".

What's the difference between "level of acceptable" and "acceptable level"?

"Level of acceptable" is a phrase commonly used, but grammatically incorrect. "Acceptable level" is a correct and concise alternative referring to a level that meets the required standards.

Can I use "acceptable degree" instead of "level of acceptability"?

Yes, you can use "acceptable degree" as an alternative. It conveys a similar meaning, indicating the extent to which something is considered satisfactory or permissible. Other alternatives include "permissible degree" or "tolerable extent".