looking pretty good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looking pretty good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a positive assessment of something's appearance or condition. Example: "After the renovations, the house is looking pretty good and ready for sale."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The economy's looking pretty good.

The Washington Post

"It's all looking pretty good".

The Guardian - Film

But Brahms is looking pretty good.

The New York Times

"Change is suddenly looking pretty good".

The New Yorker

So far Cricket is looking pretty good.

The New York Times

The economy is still looking pretty good.

The Telegraph

Meanwhile, London is looking pretty good.

The New York Times

My skin's looking pretty good, too.

The New York Times

"It's looking pretty good," Popovich said.

The New York Times - Sports

He's looking pretty good in this shirt.

The Guardian - Sport

And things have been looking pretty good.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "looking pretty good" to express a generally positive assessment without overstating the quality. It's suitable when something is better than expected but not necessarily exceptional.

Common error

Avoid using "looking pretty good" in highly formal or professional writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "appearing favorable" or "showing promising results" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looking pretty good" primarily functions as a subjective assessment or observation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression, often indicating a positive but not necessarily outstanding condition. Examples show it describing economies, appearances, and progress.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "looking pretty good" is a common and generally accepted way to express a positive assessment or satisfactory condition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. While widely used in news and media, it's important to consider the context and audience, opting for more formal alternatives in professional or academic settings. Remember to use this phrase to convey a generally favorable impression without overstating the quality or condition. Semantically related phrases, such as "appearing quite well" or "seeming quite good", can be used to modulate the tone and formality as needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appearing quite well

Changes the verb to "appearing" and uses "quite well" for a slightly more formal tone.

seeming quite good

Replaces "looking" with "seeming", suggesting an impression rather than a direct observation, and employs "quite good" for similar impact.

shaping up nicely

Emphasizes progress and positive development, often used for projects or situations that are improving.

in good shape

Focuses on the state of being in a satisfactory condition, often related to health or readiness.

holding up well

Highlights the ability to withstand challenges or time, implying resilience and sustained quality.

faring well

Suggests success or positive progress in a particular situation or endeavor.

doing alright

A more casual way of expressing that something is satisfactory or acceptable.

progressing well

Focuses specifically on the advancement and positive development of a project or situation.

coming along nicely

Similar to "shaping up nicely", but emphasizes the gradual and pleasing nature of the progress.

on the right track

Indicates that something is proceeding in a correct and promising direction.

FAQs

How can I use "looking pretty good" in a sentence?

You can use "looking pretty good" to describe the state or appearance of something. For example, "The economy is "looking pretty good" this quarter" or "After the repairs, the car is "looking pretty good"".

What's a more formal alternative to "looking pretty good"?

For more formal situations, consider phrases like "appearing favorable", "showing promising results", or "demonstrating significant improvement" instead of ""looking pretty good"".

Is "looking pretty good" appropriate for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, ""looking pretty good"" may be too informal for academic writing. Opt for more precise and scholarly language depending on the subject matter.

What's the difference between "looking pretty good" and "looking very good"?

"Looking pretty good" suggests a positive but not exceptional assessment. "Looking very good" implies a higher degree of satisfaction or quality. The choice depends on the specific context and the level of positivity you want to convey.