moderately sound

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "moderately sound" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is reasonably reliable or valid, but not completely so. Example: "The proposal was deemed moderately sound, suggesting that while it had some merit, further revisions were necessary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He thinks they represent a moderately sound set of decisions.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Revealing the intrinsic program of gene expression that accompanies nicotinic cholinergic synapse development in the cochlea is a key step in identifying molecular targets and pathways involved in fast nicotinic transmission and that may be involved in the inner ear's protective mechanisms against moderately intense sound and human disease states such as tinnitus.

Plosone

Overall, the dosimeter measurements from the labour ward showed moderately high sound levels, as presented in table 1.

BMJ Open

They defined loudness hyperacusis as "…present when moderately intense sounds are judged to be very loud compared with what a person with normal hearing would perceive".

BioMed Research International

In general, singers from Northwestern Mexico use a moderately relaxed vocal sound emphasizing the natural vocal range and using little melodic ornamentation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Cats," like all successful musicals, has a sensual element to it; Broadway dancers are sexy, and though it sounds moderately perverse to say so, cats are, too.

The New York Times

He sounded moderately freaked out by the skeezy Jaguar-dealer executive in the show, but he added, "At the end of the day, though, we're confident that people know it's a fictional character".

The New Yorker

So gloomy have investors become about the country's leading chain-store group that its shares leapt 5% when its awful results were published, because the figures were not quite as awful as expected and because the management sounded moderately convincing about sorting things out.

The Economist

SOUND LEVEL Moderate to moderately loud, depending on crowd size.

The New York Times - Food

SOUND LEVEL Moderate to moderately loud, depending on how crowded it is.

The New York Times - Food

SOUND LEVEL: Moderately loud.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the soundness of an argument or plan, use "moderately sound" to convey that it has merit but may require further refinement. It indicates a balanced assessment, acknowledging both strengths and potential weaknesses.

Common error

Avoid using "moderately sound" when you need to express complete confidence in something. Opt for stronger terms like "completely sound" or "indisputable" to convey certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "moderately sound" functions as a descriptor, modifying a noun to indicate the degree to which something is reliable, valid, or stable. It suggests a middle ground between complete soundness and complete unsoundness. Ludwig AI shows it in contexts like decisions and protective mechanisms.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "moderately sound" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe something that is reasonably reliable or valid. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is used to express a qualified endorsement rather than absolute certainty. While relatively infrequent, it appears in news, science, and encyclopedia contexts. For stronger emphasis, consider alternatives like "somewhat reliable" or "fairly plausible".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat reliable

Emphasizes a partial degree of reliability rather than a degree of being both reasonable and reliable.

reasonably stable

Focuses on stability to a limited extent, indicating a lack of complete steadiness or security.

fairly plausible

Highlights that something is believable or credible to some degree, without a claim to absolute certainty.

partially valid

Highlights a limited degree of validity, suggesting some aspects are true while others may not be.

mildly stable

Indicates slight stability, implying vulnerability to change and a limited ability to withstand significant disturbances.

moderately robust

Emphasizes the strength and resilience of something to a limited extent.

somewhat robust

Highlights partial robustness, suggesting less overall resilience or durability than other phrases.

reasonably valid

Suggests acceptable validity, but it falls short of being definitively or entirely accurate.

passably reliable

Implies an acceptable level of dependability, but nothing more.

superficially reliable

Emphasizes the reliability is at surface level only.

FAQs

How can I use "moderately sound" in a sentence?

You can use "moderately sound" to describe something that is reasonably reliable or valid, but not completely so. For example, "The proposal was deemed moderately sound, suggesting that while it had some merit, further revisions were necessary."

What are some alternatives to "moderately sound"?

Alternatives include "somewhat reliable", "fairly plausible", or "partially valid", depending on the context.

Is "moderately sound" formal or informal?

"Moderately sound" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, consider your audience and purpose. In highly formal settings, a more precise term might be preferable.

What does it mean for an argument to be "moderately sound"?

If an argument is described as "moderately sound", it means that it has a reasonable basis in logic and evidence, but may have some weaknesses or limitations that prevent it from being completely convincing. It's not perfect, but it's not entirely flawed either.