passably well

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "passably well" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a level of performance or quality that is acceptable but not exceptional. Example: "She performed passably well in the competition, managing to secure a spot in the top ten."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Only JPMorgan Chase did passably well (see chart).

The Economist

Still, the system worked passably well for years.

The New York Times

The shows fared passably well, he said, until focus group moderators revealed the shows were intended for AMC.

The New York Times

Presidents who do both jobs passably well — Reagan and Kennedy, and Obama, too — get many a break from their constituents, and from the history books.

The New Yorker

It also performs passably well as a laptop, with functions to edit Microsoft Word and Excel documents as well as view PowerPoint slides.

The New York Times - Tech

But if the goal is merely to record programs off television, a humble VCR does that job passably well at a fraction of the cost.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

What happens on the farm and out in the fields is passably well-policed and transparent.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Even though the Lebanese armed forces aren't really a force to be reckoned with, the Saudis likely figured that it might not hurt to at least have a passably well-equipped counterterrorism force in the area while everything is going to hell.

Vice

I expected all cooking tomatoes to taste at least passably when well cooked.

The New York Times

Mr. Kim, who turned 69 this month, looks to be in passably good health.

The New York Times

Marco Guidarini, in his company debut, gets a passably good but uninspired performance from the Met orchestra.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "passably well" to describe situations where something is done to an acceptable standard, but not exceptionally. This is useful when setting realistic expectations or acknowledging limitations.

Common error

Avoid using "passably well" excessively, as it can suggest a lack of enthusiasm or a compromise in quality. Consider stronger alternatives when excellence is desired.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passably well" functions as an adverbial modifier, describing the manner in which an action is performed. Ludwig AI indicates that this usage is grammatically correct and widely understood.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

12%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "passably well" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that describes an action performed adequately but not exceptionally. As Ludwig AI confirms, its communicative purpose is to provide a balanced assessment, setting realistic expectations. It appears most frequently in news articles but is also found in academic and encyclopedic contexts, indicating a neutral register. When a more precise description is needed, alternatives such as "adequately well" or "sufficiently well" can be considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adequately well

Focuses on the sufficiency of performance, emphasizing meeting the minimum requirement.

sufficiently well

Highlights that the performance is enough to satisfy a particular need or purpose.

reasonably well

Suggests a degree of satisfaction with the performance, implying it is within acceptable limits.

fairly well

Indicates a moderate level of success or competence.

acceptably well

Emphasizes that the performance meets a certain standard of acceptance.

tolerably well

Implies that the performance is just good enough to be tolerated, suggesting a lower standard.

competently

Focuses on the skill and ability to perform a task adequately.

satisfactorily

Indicates that the performance fulfills expectations or requirements.

serviceably

Highlights the functionality and usefulness of the performance, even if not outstanding.

not badly

Uses a double negative to express that the performance was somewhat good.

FAQs

How can I use "passably well" in a sentence?

You can use "passably well" to describe something that is done adequately but not excellently. For example, "He played the guitar "passably well", but it wasn't a virtuoso performance."

What are some alternatives to "passably well"?

Alternatives include "adequately well", "sufficiently well", or "fairly well", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "passably well" or "passably good"?

"Passably well" is generally used to describe how something is done, while "passably good" describes the quality of something. For instance, someone might sing "passably well", but the song itself might be "passably good".

In what situations is it appropriate to use "passably well"?

It's appropriate when you want to acknowledge that something is done to an acceptable level without being outstanding. It implies a middle ground between poor and excellent.