partially successful

USAGE SUMMARY

"partially successful" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that was partially or somewhat successful, but not completely successful. Example: The team's efforts to save the endangered species were partially successful, as they were able to increase the population by 25%, but not enough to remove it from the endangered list.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In its objective of smoothing over Liberal divisions, Sifton's succession was only partially successful.

Wikipedia

Lumbar manipulation partially successful.

The New Yorker

The mission was partially successful.

The New York Times

He is only partially successful at this.

The Guardian - Books

They are, however, only partially successful.

The Guardian - Film

I want it to be ultimately successful, not partially successful.

The New York Times

Those efforts appear to have been at least partially successful.

The New York Times

The treatment ended prematurely and was only partially successful.

The Guardian - Arts

They were only partially successful, and sharp regional contrasts persist.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Intel tried to block Mr. Hamidi's messages but was only partially successful.

The New York Times

He is only partially successful in his effort to retrieve Lara's jewels.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "partially successful" to offer a balanced assessment, acknowledging both achievements and shortcomings. This adds credibility to your evaluation.

Common error

Avoid using "partially successful" when the outcome was largely a failure. Choose a more accurate descriptor, such as "mostly unsuccessful" or "marginally effective", to avoid misleading the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "partially successful" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, indicating the extent to which an endeavor, action, or treatment has achieved its intended outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "partially successful" is a versatile adjective phrase used to describe outcomes that have achieved some degree of success but have not been fully realized. As Ludwig AI validates, it is grammatically sound and widely applicable across various domains. Its function is to convey a nuanced assessment, acknowledging both positive achievements and remaining shortcomings. Usage is most prevalent in News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias. While alternatives like "moderately successful" and "somewhat effective" exist, the choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis. When using "partially successful", clarity and context are key to avoid overstating the degree of success achieved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not entirely successful

Explicitly negates complete success, emphasizing the incomplete nature of the outcome.

moderately successful

Replaces "partially" with "moderately", suggesting a slightly higher degree of success.

somewhat effective

Shifts the focus from success to effectiveness, implying a functional but incomplete result.

limited success

Highlights the restricted scope or extent of the success achieved.

partly achieved

Focuses on the achievement aspect, indicating that only a portion of the goal was attained.

incompletely realized

Emphasizes the lack of full realization or completion of a plan or objective.

qualified success

Implies that the success is conditional or subject to certain limitations.

mixed results

Indicates a combination of positive and negative outcomes, where success is not uniform.

with some success

Highlights the presence of success but without quantifying the extent.

to a degree successful

Indicates that success was attained to a certain extent or level.

FAQs

How can I use "partially successful" in a sentence?

You can use "partially successful" to describe an attempt or project that achieved some, but not all, of its goals. For example: "The treatment was "partially successful" in reducing the patient's pain."

What are some alternatives to saying "partially successful"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "moderately successful", "somewhat effective", or "limited success".

Is it better to say "partially successful" or "not entirely successful"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but ""partially successful"" emphasizes the positive aspects of the outcome, while "not entirely successful" focuses on what was lacking. Choose the phrase that best reflects the intended emphasis.

What is the difference between "partially successful" and "largely successful"?

"Partially successful" means some aspects were successful, while "largely successful" indicates that most aspects were successful. The key difference lies in the degree of success achieved.