nearly good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nearly good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is close to being good but not quite there, often implying a slight deficiency or imperfection. Example: "The meal was nearly good, but it lacked the seasoning that would have made it perfect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

That's not nearly good enough.

The New York Times

Not nearly good enough.

The New York Times

It isn't nearly good enough.

The Guardian

This wasn't nearly good enough for Eagle.

The Guardian

Most software isn't nearly good enough yet.

The Guardian - Tech

This wasn't nearly good enough for Cameron.

The Guardian

However, that is not nearly good enough.

The New York Times

The campaign thinks that's not nearly good enough.

The New York Times

Usually they don't patch their work nearly good enough".

The New York Times

By Rex Ryan's standards, "very, very average" is not nearly good enough.

The New York Times - Sports

I wouldn't mind being a pro golfer, but I'm not nearly good enough.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nearly good" to express that something falls just short of being completely satisfactory or excellent. It implies a minor deficiency or imperfection that prevents it from achieving full 'goodness'.

Common error

Avoid using "nearly good" when something is significantly flawed or substandard. This phrase is best reserved for situations where the deficiency is minor and the overall quality is still acceptable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nearly good" primarily functions as a subjective assessment, often modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating a quality that is approaching but not fully achieving a standard of 'good'. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nearly good" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to convey that something is approaching a state of being 'good' but falls slightly short. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It commonly appears in news articles and scientific contexts. When aiming for precision, consider alternatives like "almost good" or "close to good" for subtle variations in meaning. Be mindful of overstating the positive when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost good

Indicates a state very close to being good, lacking only a small degree.

close to good

Expresses proximity to the state of being good, but not necessarily reaching it.

practically good

Suggests that for all practical purposes, something is good, even if not perfectly so.

virtually good

Similar to 'practically good', implying that something is good in effect if not in reality.

effectively good

Focuses on the outcome, indicating that something functions as if it were good.

essentially good

Highlights the fundamental goodness of something, despite potential minor flaws.

substantially good

Indicates a significant degree of goodness, though not necessarily complete.

largely good

Implies that the majority of something is good, with only small parts lacking.

reasonably good

Suggests an acceptable level of goodness, meeting a certain standard or expectation.

adequately good

Indicates that something is just good enough for a specific purpose or need.

FAQs

What does "nearly good" mean?

"Nearly good" means that something is close to being good, but not quite. It implies a slight imperfection or deficiency.

What can I say instead of "nearly good"?

You can use alternatives like "almost good", "close to good", or "practically good" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "nearly good enough"?

Yes, "nearly good enough" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase. It suggests that something almost meets the required standard but still falls short.

What's the difference between "nearly good" and "pretty good"?

"Nearly good" implies a slight deficiency preventing something from being fully good, whereas "pretty good" suggests something is good to a considerable extent, generally better than average.