not so successful

USAGE SUMMARY

"not so successful" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something was not as successful as it could have been. For example, "The project was not so successful as we had hoped."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

His splenetic Blair in Tom Stoppard's Hopgood in 1988 was not so successful, but he was already enjoying the Sir Humphrey success and had begun to mellow.

The Guardian

Not so successful.

The Guardian

Some versions are not so successful, however.

The New York Times - Magazine

Judging by his Twitter feed, he was not so successful.

The New York Times

Later novels, not fantastic, were not so successful.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They were not so successful in fighting Publius's son.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

It's launched (successful and not-so successful) protests of companies the internet frivolously deems evil and even started revolutions.

Vice

But Capernaum's success stories far outnumber its not-so-successful stories- a feat for which Tsitsi is thankful.

Forbes

You've been both not-so-successful, and extremely successful.

The Guardian - Books

What separates the successful firms from the not-so-successful ones.

Harvard Business Review

But the Irish 'Mr Bigs', such as Dunne and his not-so-successful protector, 'Penguin' Mitchell, quit Dublin for Amsterdam.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not so successful" when you want to soften the impact of a negative assessment. It implies a lack of complete success without being overly critical or harsh.

Common error

Avoid using "not so successful" in highly formal or academic writing where a more direct and precise term like "unsuccessful" or "less effective" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not so successful" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes something that has not achieved the desired level of success, indicating a deficiency or partial failure. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

18%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

4%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not so successful" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase for describing something that has not fully achieved its intended outcome. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and common usage. While versatile, it is best suited for neutral contexts like news reporting and general discussions. For more formal writing, alternatives like "unsuccessful" or "less effective" may be more appropriate. Use this phrase to soften negative assessments, but avoid overuse in professional or academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less successful

Indicates a lower degree of success compared to something else; a direct synonym.

not very successful

Similar in meaning, emphasizing the lack of a high degree of success; a slight weakening of the original.

unsuccessful

A more direct and definitive term indicating a failure to achieve the desired outcome.

did not succeed

A more explicit statement of failure, focusing on the act of not achieving success.

fell short

Implies that an attempt was made but did not reach the required standard or goal.

not a success

Rephrases the concept as a noun, focusing on the absence of success.

met with limited success

Highlights that some success was achieved, but it was not extensive or substantial.

partially successful

Emphasizes that some aspects were successful, but others were not.

relatively unsuccessful

Indicates success only in comparison to other failures.

had limited results

Shifts the focus from success to the tangible outcomes achieved, which were few.

FAQs

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

You can use "not so successful" to describe an attempt, project, or outcome that didn't achieve its goals completely. For example, "The marketing campaign was "not so successful" due to budget constraints."

What's a more formal alternative to "not so successful"?

In formal writing, consider using alternatives like "unsuccessful", "less effective", or "less fruitful" to maintain a professional tone.

Is "not so successful" grammatically correct?

Yes, "not so successful" is grammatically correct and commonly used in spoken and written English to express a lack of complete success.

What's the difference between "not so successful" and "unsuccessful"?

"Not so successful" is a milder way of saying "unsuccessful". It implies a degree of failure but isn't as definitive or harsh. "Unsuccessful" indicates a complete lack of success.