not yet good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not yet good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has not reached an acceptable level of quality or performance at the present time. Example: "The project is still in development, so it's not yet good enough for presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

That is good, but not yet good enough.

The Economist

No wonder Ofsted describes SRE as "not yet good enough".

The Guardian - Opinion

Even the polished spheres from Australia are not yet good enough.

The Economist

Not because of what happened on Saturday, but simply because he is not yet good enough.

The Guardian - Sport

But not yet good enough to prevail against the league leaders.

The Guardian - Sport

Dr. Wolf and others stress that today's robots are not yet good enough to take over most heart surgery.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

In other words, Monahan might look good on the surface, but he isn't yet good enough to keep around.

The Guardian - Sport

Unfortunately for Spurs fans, he wasn't yet good enough to prevent his team getting beaten 3-2 by their neighbours".

The Guardian - Sport

Because transparency policies have been rare, there isn't yet good data to know how best to promote transparency.

The Guardian

I was getting better at determining a woman's age, but I wasn't yet good enough to tell about her.

The New Yorker

But the project had seemed too daunting; digital effects weren't yet good enough to render creatures that changed shape far more radically than Transformers.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not yet good", follow it with an explanation of what needs improvement to provide constructive feedback.

Common error

Avoid using "not yet good" without specifying why something isn't good enough. Be specific about the deficiencies and suggest possible improvements to offer helpful criticism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not yet good" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a current state of inadequacy. Ludwig examples confirm its use in assessing quality or performance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not yet good" is a versatile adjectival phrase used to express that something currently falls short of expectations but has the potential to improve. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. To enhance clarity, it's best practice to specify why something is "not yet good" and offer suggestions for improvement. While generally neutral in tone, more formal alternatives may be preferable in professional or academic settings. The phrase appears with high frequency in the News & Media and Science.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not satisfactory yet

Replaces 'good' with 'satisfactory', emphasizing a lack of fulfillment of requirements.

not up to par yet

Uses an idiomatic expression meaning not meeting the required standard or level.

still needs improvement

Focuses on the ongoing need for enhancement.

not quite ready

Suggests that something is close to being acceptable but requires further work.

not acceptable at this time

Indicates that something doesn't meet current standards or expectations.

lacking in quality

Directly addresses the deficiency in quality.

not fully developed

Emphasizes the incomplete stage of development.

still a work in progress

Highlights the ongoing effort and lack of completion.

underdeveloped

A concise way of saying that something lacks sufficient development.

below standard

Directly indicates failure to meet a particular benchmark.

FAQs

How can I use "not yet good" in a sentence?

You can use "not yet good" to express that something needs improvement or doesn't meet the required standards. For example, "The prototype is "not yet good" enough for testing, we need to refine the user interface".

What are some alternatives to "not yet good"?

Alternatives include "not satisfactory yet", "still needs improvement", or "not up to par yet". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it too informal to use "not yet good" in professional settings?

While generally acceptable, in very formal settings, alternatives like "still requires refinement" or "does not yet meet expectations" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "not yet good" and "not good enough"?

"Not yet good" suggests potential and ongoing improvement, while "not good enough" implies a more definitive lack of required quality. Both can be used, but the former carries a slightly more optimistic tone. Another alternative to "not good enough" would be "substandard".