not very successful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not very successful" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has not achieved a high level of success or effectiveness. Example: "The project was not very successful, as it failed to meet its initial goals and objectives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

And it was not very successful.

The New York Times

This approach proved disengaging and not very successful, says Riches.

The Guardian

It says it knows that cross-selling in media is not very successful.

The Economist

The latest dive, however, was not very successful on the scientific front.

The Economist

He was not very successful, never finishing higher than third place in seven seasons.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And we are coming to the end of a not very successful war.

Independent

"Right now, we're not very successful in telling the good news".

The New York Times

They were portrayed as an attempt - not very successful - to reassert his authority.

The Guardian

He presents them with much gusto, but afterwards realizes he was not very successful.

The New Yorker

Initially not very successful, Bram Stoker's novel has come to embody the archetype.

The Guardian - Books

But Mr. Sobri's group was not very successful in raising money from followers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not very successful", consider the context and whether a more precise term like "somewhat unsuccessful" or "relatively unsuccessful" would better convey the intended degree of failure.

Common error

Avoid using "not very successful" as a default phrase. Instead, provide specific details about why something was unsuccessful. For example, instead of saying "The marketing campaign was "not very successful", say "The marketing campaign failed to reach its target audience due to insufficient funding and a poorly defined message."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not very successful" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun, indicating that the noun's efforts or outcomes have fallen short of expectations. Ludwig examples show it used to describe wars, scientific experiments, business ventures, and personal endeavors.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

39%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not very successful" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed adjective phrase used to describe something that has not achieved a high degree of success. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions to convey a partial or limited failure across various contexts from news and media to scientific research. When using this phrase, consider whether a more precise alternative might better convey the specific nuance of the situation. Remember to also avoid vagueness, and provide detail about why something may have been "not very successful".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not particularly successful

Emphasizes the absence of remarkable success.

not especially successful

Similar to 'not particularly', indicating a lack of specific success.

somewhat unsuccessful

Indicates a slightly lesser degree of failure than "not very successful".

relatively unsuccessful

Suggests a failure in comparison to a benchmark or expectation.

not notably successful

Stresses the lack of significant success or achievement.

moderately unsuccessful

Implies a middling level of failure, less extreme than complete failure.

partially unsuccessful

Highlights that only a portion of the effort or goal failed.

met with limited success

Focuses on the limited quantity or degree of success achieved.

fell short of success

Emphasizes the failure to reach the desired level of success.

did not achieve significant results

Highlights the absence of substantial or noteworthy outcomes.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "not very successful"?

You can use alternatives like "somewhat unsuccessful", "relatively unsuccessful", or "moderately unsuccessful" depending on the context.

Is "not very successful" grammatically correct?

Yes, "not very successful" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to describe something that has not achieved a high level of success.

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

You can use "not very successful" to describe a project, a person's efforts, or any endeavor that did not achieve its intended goals. For example: "The new product launch was "not very successful", resulting in low sales figures."

What is the difference between "not very successful" and "unsuccessful"?

"Unsuccessful" implies a complete lack of success, while "not very successful" suggests a partial or limited success. The latter implies that some progress may have been made, but the overall outcome was not satisfactory.