marginally decent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "marginally decent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is just acceptable or slightly better than average, often with a hint of skepticism or low expectations. Example: "The restaurant's food was marginally decent, but I wouldn't recommend it to my friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But as dull as this may sound, we were surprised to discover they're all marginally decent.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

New York and Illinois, which also aren't at all competitive, and New Jersey, which is only very marginally so, also have a decent number of Hispanic voters.

The New York Times

It won't do his campaign any good to complain about racial subtexts, though I suppose it's marginally helpful (and quite admirable) when a decent Republican like David Gergen points them out.

The New Yorker

Obviously too early, but is Brazil looking doubtful for the US?" Think it is indeed fair to say that Honduras are a decent young side, who were marginally the better of two rather sloppy teams today.

The Guardian - Sport

The Ukrainians' inelegant dominance has combined with a lack of decent opposition to create an offering marginally less exciting than punching tickets.

The Guardian - Sport

Although "Language of a Broken Heart," a romantic comedy written by and starring Juddy Talt, eventually drowns in clichés and predictability, it has a few decent moments of humor and some appealing performances that make it marginally better than most vanity projects.

The New York Times

At least these were decent enough: more than 50 per cent higher than the same period last year and marginally ahead of forecasts.

Independent

His grasp of city and national governance across the developed world was remarkable; he regarded the British state as only marginally less centralised than North Korea – as he said, "the UK hadn't had a decent revolution for 400 years" – and thought the consequent lack of direct tax-raising powers in London lamentable.

The Guardian

Patdowns, scanner fascism, getting people to shuffle through checkpoints holding their shoes: these things are marginally less easy to take pride in than, say, a functioning manufacturing industry or the provision of decent education.

The Guardian - Sport

But only marginally.

Independent

Chelsea fared marginally better.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "marginally decent" when you want to express that something meets a basic level of acceptability, but doesn't necessarily excel or impress.

Common error

Avoid using "marginally decent" when a stronger, more positive description is warranted. This phrase implies a lack of enthusiasm, so choose a different phrase if the subject is truly impressive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "marginally decent" primarily functions as a compound adjective, modifying a noun to indicate a level of quality or acceptability that is slightly above the minimum requirement. Ludwig provides examples where it qualifies various subjects, indicating a basic, but not exceptional, level of quality.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "marginally decent" serves as a qualifier, indicating a level of acceptability that is just above the bare minimum. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and usage in contexts where a stronger positive description is not warranted. It's important to note that while versatile, this term implies a subdued assessment, so its use should be carefully considered based on the intended message. As seen in Ludwig's examples, "marginally decent" finds its primary usage in News & Media contexts, offering a neutrally balanced perspective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Slightly acceptable

Emphasizes minimal acceptability, focusing on the lower end of the quality spectrum.

Barely satisfactory

Highlights that the quality is just above the level of being unsatisfactory.

Somewhat adequate

Suggests a basic level of competence or suitability for a given purpose.

Passably good

Implies that something is good enough to pass a certain standard, but not exceptional.

Tolerably fine

Indicates that something is acceptable although it could be better.

Minimally impressive

Expresses that the level of impressiveness is low but still noticeable.

Just about acceptable

Stresses that something is on the verge of being unacceptable but manages to pass.

Moderately suitable

Indicates a middle ground where suitability is neither high nor low.

Reasonably good

Suggests a good level of quality, though not necessarily outstanding.

Sufficiently decent

Highlights that decency is present to a satisfactory degree.

FAQs

How can I use "marginally decent" in a sentence?

You can use "marginally decent" to describe something that is just acceptable or slightly better than average. For example, "The restaurant's food was marginally decent, but I wouldn't recommend it to my friends."

What are some alternatives to "marginally decent"?

You can use alternatives like "slightly acceptable", "barely satisfactory", or "somewhat adequate" depending on the context.

Is "marginally decent" a positive or negative description?

"Marginally decent" leans towards a neutral or slightly negative description. It suggests something is just good enough, but not particularly impressive.

What's the difference between "marginally decent" and "very good"?

"Marginally decent" implies something is just acceptable, while "very good" indicates a high level of quality. The terms are not interchangeable; use "marginally decent" when you want to convey a more subdued assessment.