more or less good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more or less good" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means that something is not perfect or exact, but it is still satisfactory or adequate. It is often used to express a general or approximate level of quality. Example: The restaurant's service was more or less good, but the food was exceptional.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Bruce McCall SO SAID — MORE OR LESS, good translations from the French being way outside the budget — the young Leon Mundane (pronounced "moon-daun-eh"), in a letter to his orthodontist upon his graduation from the semi- prestigious L'Ecole des Arriches in Nancy in 1923.

Forbes

This proves to be more or less good enough for D'Souza.

The New York Times - Books

This could result from the more or less good wettability of fibres by the resin during the process.

Polymer

Over time you get a more or less good distribution of crunching time according to resource share.

University of California, Berkeley

The more or less good guys and the more or less bad guys often share a joking camaraderie, and everyone is sympathetic in some degree, however small.

The New York Times - Arts

Agencies, like all service businesses, are just buildings full of people who are more or less good at what they do than their competitors.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

All multilayered coatings show a periodic structure with more or less good-quality interfaces, depending on whether ion bombardment was applied or not.

Surface and Coatings Technology

Younger generations of Germans have turned the idea that they and everyone hate Germans into a more or less good-humored joke, which they make with a grin.

The New York Times - Magazine

Opie, by contrast, never acknowledges that anyone is more or less good-looking or socially powerful than the level playing field he allows.

The Guardian - Arts

More intriguingly, they attracted expert scrutiny and some approbation from such luminaries as Leonard Bernstein, along with tidal waves of more or less good-natured ridicule from most of the music establishment.

The New York Times

As he made clear in the course of a 90-minute conversation, during which he was more or less good-natured though not exactly approachable, Mr. Bale does not like to talk about himself, his life, his work and certainly not about the notion of craft as it applies to what he called "the extremely silly profession" of acting.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "more or less good" when you want to convey that something is acceptable but not perfect. It's a useful phrase for tempering expectations or acknowledging minor flaws.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on phrases like "more or less good" as it can weaken your writing. Whenever possible, provide specific details to support your assessment rather than relying on vague qualifiers. For instance, instead of saying "The performance was more or less good", specify which aspects were strong and which were weak.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more or less good" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It serves to qualify the degree of goodness or acceptability, indicating that something is not perfect but still satisfactory. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "more or less good" is a phrase used to describe something that meets a satisfactory standard without being exceptional. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and understandable, functioning as an adjectival phrase. It is most commonly found in news and media sources, and is a generally neutral expression, as highlighted in the linguistic analysis. While useful for tempering expectations, the writing guidance suggests avoiding overuse of such vague qualifiers. Related phrases such as ""reasonably satisfactory"" or ""somewhat acceptable"" can offer alternative nuances. The choice depends on context and desired precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

good enough, give or take

Indicates that something is sufficient, with a disclaimer allowing for minor imperfections.

reasonably satisfactory

Replaces "more or less" with "reasonably", focusing on acceptability rather than approximation.

somewhat acceptable

Highlights the degree of acceptance, suggesting a level that is not entirely ideal.

moderately adequate

Uses "moderately" to define the limited level of sufficiency.

passably adequate

Emphasizes the barely sufficient nature of the quality, using stronger synonyms for "good".

pretty decent

Emphasizes the positive aspect of the quality, indicating that it is better than simply 'okay'.

approximates to good

This phrase uses the word "approximates" to emphasis a degree of similarity to something good.

fair to middling

Employs an idiomatic expression that implies a range from just acceptable to average in quality.

serviceable enough

Focuses on the functionality, suggesting that the subject is sufficient to fulfill its purpose.

kind of okay

Adopts a more casual tone, indicating a basic level of acceptability with a degree of understatement.

FAQs

How can I use "more or less good" in a sentence?

You can use "more or less good" to describe something that meets a satisfactory standard but isn't exceptional. For example: "The repairs to the car were "more or less good", it runs smoothly now, but the paint job is a little patchy".

What are some alternatives to "more or less good"?

Alternatives to "more or less good" include "reasonably satisfactory", "passably adequate", or "somewhat acceptable". The best choice will depend on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "more or less good" or "relatively good"?

"More or less good" suggests an approximate level of quality that's acceptable, while "relatively good" implies a comparison to something else. The choice depends on whether you're focusing on an absolute standard or a comparative one.

Can "more or less good" be used in formal writing?

While "more or less good" is generally understandable, it is more suited for informal or neutral contexts. In formal writing, consider using more precise and descriptive language to convey the intended meaning.