of decent quality

USAGE SUMMARY

"of decent quality" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe items or services that are satisfactory but not necessarily the best available. For example, "We got a TV of decent quality for a good price."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Long-distance phone calls were of decent quality but expensive.

The New York Times

"They are tasty and always of decent quality," said Lyudmila Miroshnychenko, from Kherson, southern Ukraine.

The Guardian

(Today, a deck of decent quality bears a layer of dark "cartridge" paper within the cardboard).

The New York Times

The objective was the building of decent quality homes at prices within the reach of ordinary people.

The Guardian

The late adaptation of seismic regulation rules and lack of decent quality construction material supply results a vulnerable building category in the island of Cyprus.

Engineering Failure Analysis

The DVD is of decent quality, but is slighly letterboxed for some mysterious reason, cropping a little of the top and bottom.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

"I was a bit stunned by the lack of decent-quality stuff.

The Guardian - Tech

They want to buy mixed lots of decent-quality items at extremely low prices.

The New York Times - Magazine

She reckons it will take 20 years before the promised number of decent-quality places can be provided.

The Economist

The external speaker on the DVD-LV75 was adequate for the casual viewer, but attaching a pair of decent-quality headphones was an immense improvement.

The New York Times - Tech

Flowers There's usually a nice selection of decent-quality, affordable cut flowers and bouquets at every TJ's.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "of decent quality" when you want to imply items meet a certain standard, without necessarily being high-end or luxury.

Common error

Avoid using "of decent quality" excessively, as it can sound repetitive. Instead, vary your language with synonyms such as "satisfactory", "acceptable", or more descriptive adjectives to provide a richer description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of decent quality" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in describing nouns. It modifies nouns to indicate that they possess a level of quality that is satisfactory or acceptable, though not necessarily exceptional.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "of decent quality" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjective phrase that describes something as being satisfactory or acceptable. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. While not indicating top-tier quality, it conveys a reasonable standard suitable for various contexts. It appears most frequently in News & Media, Science and Wiki sources. To avoid repetition, consider alternatives such as "of satisfactory quality" or "of reasonable quality". Overusing this phrase is a common error; vary your descriptions for richer expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

of satisfactory quality

Replaces "decent" with "satisfactory", suggesting the quality meets basic requirements.

of acceptable quality

Substitutes "decent" with "acceptable", implying the quality is adequate but not exceptional.

of reasonable quality

Uses "reasonable" instead of "decent", indicating the quality is fair and justifiable.

of fair quality

Replaces "decent" with "fair", suggesting an average or moderate level of quality.

of adequate quality

Employs "adequate" instead of "decent", implying the quality is sufficient for a specific purpose.

of respectable quality

Substitutes "decent" with "respectable", suggesting the quality is good enough to be admired or valued.

of good enough quality

More explicitly states the quality is sufficient, adding emphasis.

of passable quality

Indicates the quality barely meets the minimum standard, implying a lower level of acceptance.

of tolerable quality

Suggests the quality is acceptable despite some flaws or shortcomings.

of average quality

Indicates the quality is neither particularly good nor bad, but somewhere in the middle.

FAQs

How can I use "of decent quality" in a sentence?

You can use "of decent quality" to describe products, services, or performances that are satisfactory but not outstanding. For example, "The restaurant served food "of decent quality" at a reasonable price".

What's a good alternative to "of decent quality"?

Alternatives include "of satisfactory quality", "of acceptable quality", or "of reasonable quality", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "of decent quality" or "of good quality"?

"Of good quality" generally implies a higher standard than "of decent quality". "Of decent quality" suggests something is adequate or satisfactory, while "of good quality" indicates it's above average.

What does "decent" mean in the context of "of decent quality"?

In this context, "decent" means adequate, satisfactory, or acceptable. It implies that something meets a basic standard without being exceptional or outstanding.