not that great

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not that great" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a mild disappointment or to indicate that something does not meet expectations. Example: "The movie was entertaining, but overall, it was not that great compared to the reviews."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Def not that great.

The New Yorker

Sixth grade was probably not that great.

The New Yorker

They're not that great really.

The Guardian

And wages are not that great.

The Guardian - Business

It's not that great an analogy.

The New York Times - Books

Only I'm not that great at sewing.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

My experience in Sydney wasn't that great either.

BMC Women's Health

Sorry, didn't mean to curse — let's say, to dump your not-that-great husband.

The New Yorker

Some not-that-great jokes!

Huffington Post

Probably not all that great.

The New Yorker

Secret: It's not always that great.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not that great" to express a mild form of disappointment or to downplay expectations. It's suitable for informal conversations and writings where a strong negative statement is unnecessary.

Common error

In formal reports or academic papers, avoid using "not that great" as it may sound too casual. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "suboptimal", "less than satisfactory", or "did not meet expectations" to maintain a serious tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not that great" functions as a qualifying adjective phrase, typically used to express a mild degree of dissatisfaction or a tempered negative assessment. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is usable and correct in written English. It modifies a noun implicitly or explicitly, indicating that something is less impressive than anticipated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

13%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not that great" is a common and acceptable way to express mild disappointment or indicate that something doesn't meet expectations. As Ludwig AI explains, it's grammatically correct and widely used, especially in news and media. While versatile, it may be too informal for academic or highly professional contexts. To enhance clarity and professionalism, consider alternatives such as less than impressive or suboptimal in formal settings. Over all, "not that great" is a practical and widely understood phrase for everyday communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not all that impressive

Adds emphasis to the lack of impressiveness, intensifying the original meaning.

not particularly good

Substitutes "great" with "good" and adds "particularly" for emphasis, softening the negative statement.

somewhat disappointing

Replaces the phrase with a more concise single adjective, focusing on the feeling of letdown.

less than impressive

Uses a more formal tone to convey a lack of impact or quality.

leaves much to be desired

Indicates that something is lacking and could be significantly improved.

a bit underwhelming

Replaces the original phrase with a single word that describes the experience as failing to excite or impress.

not up to par

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate something does not meet the required standard.

kind of mediocre

Uses "mediocre" to describe something that is average or of moderate quality, implying it's not very good.

far from excellent

Highlights the distance from a high standard, emphasizing the deficiency.

nothing to write home about

Employs an informal idiom to suggest something is unremarkable or not worth mentioning.

FAQs

How can I use "not that great" in a sentence?

You can use "not that great" to express that something is less impressive than expected. For example, "The restaurant was new, but the food was "not that great"".

What's a more formal way to say "not that great"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "less than impressive", "suboptimal", or "did not meet expectations".

Is it correct to use "not that great" in academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "not that great" might be too informal for academic writing. It's better to use more precise and professional language to convey your meaning.

What's the difference between "not that great" and "terrible"?

"Not that great" indicates something is merely disappointing or below average, while "terrible" suggests something is extremely bad or unpleasant. "Not that great" is milder and suitable when you want to soften your criticism.