not so excellent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not so excellent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a moderate level of quality, indicating that something is not as good as it could be. Example: "The service at the restaurant was not so excellent, which was disappointing given the high expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The resulting membranes displayed high hydroxide conductivity, while other fuel cell related properties are not so excellent.

Journal of Membrane Science

I'm going to hire someone Regular, who is not so excellent, and lives off the salt of the land and the fat of his brow and the sweat of his earth.

The New Yorker

Resistance spot welding (RSW) is the dominant sheet metal joining method in automobile industry, whereas the weldability of dual-phase steel using conventional air gun is not so excellent for the weld lobe diagram under constant electrode force is too narrow.

Journal of Materials Processing Technology

As a general comment on Aristotle's analysis, Aquinas remarks: "It is not the knowledge of the universal but only the evaluation of the sensible, which is not so excellent, that is dragged about by passion".

SEP

(Not that she mentions her not so excellent eBay era adventures with, say, Skype, Craigslist, and Goldman Sachs. So I won't, either).

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

You'll find excellently written books as well as books that aren't so excellent.

HuffPost

He has more to do with Donovan, which isn't so excellent.

The New York Times

When Hyundai, of South Korea, entered the United States market in 1986, its sole offering was the not-so-excellent Excel.

The New York Times

Situation not-so-excellent.

The New York Times

There are excellent doctors, and not-so-excellent doctors.

The Guardian

Toby Caldwell's not-so-excellent adventure ended yesterday morning when he raced down a neighbor's driveway and into his owner's arms.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not so excellent" when you want to gently downplay the quality of something without being overly critical. It's suitable for scenarios where direct negativity might be inappropriate.

Common error

While "not so excellent" can soften criticism, avoid relying on it excessively. Vary your language with more specific descriptors to provide clearer feedback and avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not so excellent" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a quality that is less than excellent. It serves to soften a negative assessment. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

23%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not so excellent" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that serves to express a moderate level of quality or a tempered critique. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts and offers a softer alternative to more direct criticisms. While not exceedingly common, understanding its nuances helps in crafting more balanced and nuanced communication. Remember to consider your audience and the formality of the context when choosing between "not so excellent" and its many alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not particularly good

A more verbose way of expressing a lack of quality.

subpar

A more concise, direct way of saying something is below the expected standard.

not up to par

Indicates failure to meet a required standard or expectation.

not the greatest

A more casual way to say something is not very good.

less than satisfactory

Highlights that something does not meet the required level of satisfaction.

somewhat disappointing

Focuses on the disappointment experienced due to unmet expectations.

rather poor

Indicates a low level of quality or performance.

less than stellar

Emphasizes a significant lack of impressiveness; more figurative.

leaves something to be desired

A polite way of saying something is not completely satisfactory.

deficient

Highlights a specific lack or shortage in quality or performance.

FAQs

How can I use "not so excellent" in a sentence?

You can use "not so excellent" to describe something that is less than ideal or satisfactory. For instance, "The food was good, but the service was "not so excellent"."

What are some alternatives to "not so excellent"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "subpar", "less than stellar", or "somewhat disappointing".

Is "not so excellent" a formal or informal expression?

"Not so excellent" is generally considered a neutral to slightly informal expression. It is suitable for most everyday conversations but might be too casual for highly formal writing. In formal writing use better alternatives like "subpar" or "deficient".

Is it okay to use "not so excellent" in professional writing?

While acceptable, consider the audience and purpose. In some professional contexts, a more precise term like "suboptimal" or a more detailed explanation might be preferable to "not so excellent".