nifty

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "nifty" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an informal adjective that means clever, skillful, or neat. For example, "My mom is so nifty when it comes to organizing her closet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The generation who grew up surrounded by acknowledgements that they had dignity, bravery and the capacity for greatness were, unsurprisingly, nifty voters - the first chance they got, they elected a government which promised to reward their sacrifices with a welfare state.

The Guardian

Halloween on Friday propelled Ouija to a nifty £1.37m opening, and sustained the likes of Annabelle and The Babadook (down just 15%) lower down the chart.

The Guardian - Film

Providing an alternative to the upscale fare and family films on offer, The Woman in Black: Angel of Death landed with a nifty £2.43m, including £547,000 in previews.

The Guardian - Film

Thanks to some nifty baseline mapping of householder car use within the region, Marion and her colleagues have worked out that 1% is roughly equivalent to one million miles, "Hence the project's name," she says.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's partly because they're filled with holes, telephone boxes, grates, craters, broken glass, trees, pedestrians, parked cars, waiting cabs and litter bins; but mostly because they stop and start suddenly, up on high kerbs, so to get off the road and on to them safely I'd have to master some nifty manoeuvre to do with quantum bi-location, atomic wormholes and halting earth time.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Do you have any nifty tricks for keeping on top of things?

The Guardian

Glatch's nifty slice sets her apart from the rest of the American contingent; it's a legitimate one-hander, one that looks honed through the years, not added in haste late in the game.

The Guardian - Sport

Premise: The New Yorker in TV form, featuring a short story, an interview, a documentary, a poem and some rather nifty time-lapse footage of the magazine's famous cartoons being made.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Granted that wasn't difficult with Julian Dicks, but when you consider the expletives that immediately follow, even today, the mention among Liverpool fans of players such as Istvan Kozma, Paul Stewart and Torben Piechnik, then you have to admit that it was a nifty stunt that Souness pulled.

The Guardian - Sport

He took the goalkeeper out of the game with a nifty shimmy and then had a shot blocked on the line.

The Guardian - Sport

Yours, The consigliere of fashion Without wishing to disregard the consigliere, while Philo's too-short-skirt looked rather nifty on the catwalk, on the pavement it looks as if you think you are still at school and have rolled your skirt up too high to impress the boys on the No 27 bus with your gynaecological chic.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nifty" to describe something that is both clever and useful. It's a more informal way to express admiration for ingenuity.

Common error

Avoid using "nifty" in formal writing or professional settings. It's best suited for informal conversations or when you want to add a touch of lightheartedness.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "nifty" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something as clever, skillful, or neat. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts, aligning with Ludwig AI's assessment of its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nifty" is an informal adjective that expresses approval for something clever, skillful, or neat. While grammatically correct and very common, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's best suited for informal contexts and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig's examples show its frequent use in news and media, adding a touch of personality to descriptions. Consider alternatives like "clever" or "skillful" for more formal settings. Remember to use "nifty" when you want to convey a sense of admiration and lightheartedness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clever

Simple one-word synonym for general cleverness.

skillful

Highlights the element of expertise and proficiency.

ingenious

Focuses on inventiveness and resourcefulness.

adept

Emphasizes a high degree of competence.

neat

Underlines orderliness and precision.

smart

A general term for intelligence or cleverness, but can also refer to stylishness.

resourceful

Highlights the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties.

slick

Implies a smooth and efficient way of doing things, sometimes with a hint of showmanship.

deft

Suggests skill and quickness in movement or action.

adroit

Similar to deft, but may imply a more refined or elegant skill.

FAQs

How to use "nifty" in a sentence?

You can use "nifty" to describe something that is clever and useful. For example, "That's a "nifty solution"" or "He came up with a "nifty trick" to solve the problem".

What can I say instead of "nifty"?

You can use alternatives like "clever", "skillful", or "ingenious" depending on the specific context.

Is "nifty" formal or informal?

"Nifty" is generally considered to be an informal term. It's best used in casual conversations or informal writing, rather than in professional or academic contexts.

What's the difference between "nifty" and "neat"?

While both "nifty" and "neat" can describe something positive, "nifty" implies cleverness or ingenuity, whereas "neat" suggests orderliness and tidiness. Something can be "neat and organized" without being "nifty", and vice versa.