not very helpful

USAGE SUMMARY

"not very helpful" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something (or someone) did not provide the necessary or desirable amount of help. For example: "I asked my neighbor for gardening advice but his suggestions were not very helpful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's not very helpful.

Harvard Business Review

"That's not very helpful advice.

The New York Times

This is not very helpful.

What Went Wrong? Case Histories of Process Plant Disasters and How They Could Hare Been Avoided

Frankly, it's not very helpful".

The New Yorker

And that was not very helpful".

The New York Times - Sports

That's not very helpful to morale".

The New York Times

But that alone is not very helpful.

The New York Times - Tech

People are helpful, but not very helpful.

The Guardian - Books

That's understandable but not very helpful.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

However, today's grammar checkers are not very helpful in open experiments with language constructions.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Developing strategy through historical analogy is not very helpful.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not very helpful", be specific about why something lacks utility. Providing context enhances clarity and prevents misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "not very helpful" as a standalone critique. Always explain what could be improved or what specific issue makes something unhelpful to offer constructive feedback.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not very helpful" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates a lack of sufficient assistance or utility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

22%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not very helpful" is a commonly used adjective phrase expressing a lack of sufficient assistance or utility. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts, including news, science, and academic writing. While versatile, it's best practice to provide specific reasons why something is "not very helpful" to avoid vagueness and offer constructive feedback. Related phrases include "somewhat unhelpful" and "of limited assistance". The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for diverse communication settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Not particularly useful

Emphasizes the lack of usefulness, a core aspect of the original phrase.

Somewhat unhelpful

Expresses a similar lack of utility but uses "somewhat" to soften the criticism.

Of limited assistance

Formal phrasing that conveys a lack of substantial help.

Of little value

Highlights that something has a low worth.

A bit useless

Uses a more informal term, "useless", to indicate a lack of help.

Hardly effective

Focuses on the lack of effectiveness of a particular action or tool.

Not especially constructive

Focuses on the lack of positive contribution or development.

Marginally beneficial

Highlights the slight, almost insignificant, benefit provided.

Only slightly supportive

Focuses on the minimal support provided.

Scarcely advantageous

Highlights the minimal advantages provided.

FAQs

How can I use "not very helpful" in a sentence?

You can use "not very helpful" to express that something or someone isn't providing sufficient assistance. For example, "The instructions were "not very helpful" in assembling the furniture".

What are some alternatives to saying "not very helpful"?

Alternatives include phrases like "somewhat unhelpful", "a bit useless", or "of limited assistance", depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "not very helpful" or "unhelpful"?

"Not very helpful" is often perceived as more polite and less direct than simply saying "unhelpful". The best choice depends on the situation and your relationship with the person you're addressing.

What's the difference between "not very helpful" and "not particularly helpful"?

The difference is negligible. Both phrases convey a similar meaning, suggesting a lack of significant assistance or utility. "Not particularly helpful" might be slightly more formal, but they are largely interchangeable.