looks relatively good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looks relatively good" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a positive assessment of something while indicating that it may not be perfect or that there are some minor issues. Example: "The project report looks relatively good, but we should still review it for any errors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It is small comfort, but the United States still looks relatively good in G.D.P. recovery.

The New York Times

A look at Asia's former tigers and tiger cubs reveals a mere handful of companies that are seriously trying to change.If Taiwan looks relatively good in this respect, this is thanks to its large high-tech industry.

The Economist

If Miliband will be relieved his performance looks relatively good when measured against the fanciful scenario of Blair retaking Labour's reins, he will be concerned he is not making more progress against the Conservatives on the crucial terrain of the economy.

The Guardian

Given the budget-cutting fervor in Washington, however, that total looks relatively good, Lubell says.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Indeed, conditions do look relatively good because things have been so bleak for so long.

The New York Times

But for the moment, the United States, although we have cyclical problems, is nevertheless looking relatively good.

The New York Times

Only Aleksei Rykov and sometime finance commissar Grigory Sokolnikov look relatively good, although not as potential leaders because they had no organised factions behind them.

The Guardian - Books

James Brown, an analyst with the State Labor Department, noted that employment nationally has been falling, and therefore New York City's 1percentt growth looked relatively good.

The New York Times

"Pharmaceutical earnings look relatively good, and I think we'll start to hear more talk about the industry turning the corner," said Michael Holland, a money manager who owns Pfizer shares.

The New York Times

An index of manufacturing published on May 1st fell to 50.5 in April, suggesting industry is barely growing (a score below 50 indicates shrinking activity).In this section Lonesome highway Dial M for muddle Heathrow's woes The bottom line Smart on crime Stirring sterling Travels with a salesman ReprintsYet a currency need only look relatively good to attract buyers.

The Economist

But Dorothee Hellmuth, auto analyst at Nomura, said BMW’s cash position looked relatively good.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "looks relatively good" when you want to convey a cautiously optimistic assessment, suggesting something meets a basic standard without being exceptional. For instance: "The initial design proposal "looks relatively good", but further refinements are needed."

Common error

Avoid using "looks relatively good" when the subject is truly excellent or exceptional. The phrase implies a comparison with something worse, so using it for something outstanding diminishes its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looks relatively good" functions primarily as a subject complement. It modifies the subject by describing its appearance or state in comparison to something else. Ludwig AI indicates its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "looks relatively good" is a useful expression to convey a cautiously optimistic assessment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, predominantly in news and media. While it's not an exceptionally frequent phrase, it serves well to express that something is acceptable or satisfactory in comparison to something else. Remember to use it when you want to convey a nuanced perspective rather than an unqualified positive statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appears reasonably sound

Changes "looks" to "appears" and "relatively good" to "reasonably sound" maintaining a similar level of positivity.

seems comparatively decent

Substitutes "looks" with "seems" and "relatively good" with "comparatively decent", emphasizing the comparative aspect.

presents itself favorably

Replaces the direct observation with a more formal way of saying that something shows positive aspects.

is in fairly good condition

Focuses on the state or condition, implying a satisfactory level compared to expectations.

holds up quite well

Indicates resilience and acceptable performance when tested or compared.

measures up adequately

Implies that something meets the required standard or expectation, though without exceeding it.

stacks up advantageously

Highlights the beneficial or superior position of something when compared to alternatives.

shows promise relatively

Highlights potential, but still maintains a degree of relativity by emphasizing comparison with another object.

is reasonably acceptable

Indicates that something is good enough or satisfactory without being exceptional.

cuts a respectable figure

Suggests that something or someone presents a positive appearance or impression.

FAQs

How can I use "looks relatively good" in a sentence?

You can use "looks relatively good" to describe something that is acceptable or satisfactory compared to other things. For example, "Given the circumstances, the company's financial situation "looks relatively good"".

What's a formal alternative to "looks relatively good"?

In a formal context, consider using phrases like "appears reasonably sound" or "presents itself favorably" instead of ""looks relatively good"".

Is "looks relatively good" always positive?

Yes, ""looks relatively good"" is generally positive, but it also implies that there may be some minor issues or that it is not perfect. It suggests something is acceptable in comparison to alternatives or expectations.

What's the difference between "looks relatively good" and "looks very good"?

"Looks very good" implies a high level of quality or satisfaction, while ""looks relatively good"" suggests something is acceptable or satisfactory, especially when compared to something else. The former is a stronger endorsement.