not really good

USAGE SUMMARY

"not really good" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is not as good as it could be. For example: "The food at the restaurant wasn't really good."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's not really good.

The New York Times

"I'm not really good at it".

The New York Times

I can see, just not really good.

The New York Times - Magazine

I'm not really good at labels.

The Guardian - Music

That's fundamentally not really good enough".

The Guardian

I'm not really good at receiving".

The New York Times - Arts

I'm not really good at saying no sometimes.

The New York Times

"I'm not really good at math," she said.

The New York Times

I'm not really good at plotting three steps ahead.

Independent

"I'm not really good at that," he said.

The Washington Post

But then, not really good enough to beat Naipaul.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not really good" to express a mild form of disapproval or inadequacy, suitable for situations where a strong negative statement is unnecessary.

Common error

Avoid using "not really good" repeatedly in close proximity, as it can make your writing sound monotonous. Vary your language with synonyms such as "somewhat inadequate" or "less than ideal" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not really good" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to express a subjective assessment of its quality. As Ludwig AI explains, this construction indicates something is below expectations without being entirely negative.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not really good" functions as an adjectival phrase to express a mildly negative evaluation. The Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, highlighting its suitability for softening criticism. With a high frequency, particularly in News & Media and Science, the phrase is a common way to convey that something is below expectations without being overly harsh. Remember to use it judiciously, varying your language to avoid monotony and maintaining clarity in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not particularly good

Emphasizes a slightly lesser degree of inadequacy compared to the original phrase.

not especially good

Similar to 'not particularly good', it softens the negative assessment.

not very good

A more straightforward and common alternative expressing a lack of quality.

somewhat inadequate

Formally expresses a deficiency, suitable for more formal contexts.

subpar

A concise term indicating performance below the expected standard.

deficient

Directly states a lack or shortage in quality or performance.

not up to par

An idiomatic expression indicating something doesn't meet the required standard.

less than ideal

Indicates that something is not the best possible option or situation.

leaves something to be desired

Politely expresses that something is not entirely satisfactory.

far from perfect

Highlights the imperfection of something, implying significant shortcomings.

FAQs

What does "not really good" mean?

The phrase "not really good" expresses that something is below the expected standard, but not necessarily terrible. It's a mild way to indicate disapproval or deficiency.

How can I use "not really good" in a sentence?

You might say, "The service was friendly, but the food was "not really good"." This communicates that the food was subpar without being overly critical.

What are some alternatives to "not really good"?

Alternatives include phrases like "not very good", "somewhat inadequate", or "less than ideal", each offering a slightly different nuance.

Is it better to say "not really good" or "bad"?

It depends on the context. "Bad" is a stronger, more direct term. "Not really good" is milder and more suitable when you want to soften criticism. For example, if the service in a restaurant was not good you might say "the service was "not really good", but the food was excellent", whereas if the service was offensive you might say "the service was bad, and the food was terrible".