patchy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "patchy" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is uneven, inconsistent, or incomplete, such as coverage, performance, or quality. Example: "The internet connection was patchy, making it difficult to stream videos without interruptions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Richard Humphries, assistant director of policy at The King's Fund The idea of a billion pounds coming out of social care budgets this year is chilling, given how patchy care quality already is.

The Guardian

If you want to carry on reading and you don't speak French, translations of all but the most famous parts of the series are patchy and often out of print.

The Guardian - Books

He says access to MBCT throughout the NHS is patchy and "effectively a postcode lottery".

The Guardian

Yes, the owners are slightly eccentric and the service is patchy.

The Guardian - Travel

Stosur's results have been patchy in the lead-up events, losing all three matches at the Hopman Cup before steadying to scrape her way through to a semi-final in Hobart.

The Guardian - Sport

So far, however, the evidence is patchy... Earlier this month came data showing the first rise in house prices in 17 months.

The Guardian - Business

Overall few staff were around, information was patchy at best and no one seemed in overall control.

The Guardian

A long-standing campaign, Norwich in 90, to upgrade the region's patchy rail infrastructure and cut journey times has finally won the government's support.

The Guardian

Voting in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where separatists have proclaimed breakaway independent republics after a pair of hastily organised referendums earlier this month, is likely to be patchy at best, with separatists vowing to disrupt the vote.

The Guardian

Many of the problems had already been reported - not enough desert combats or boots, SA80 rifles jamming, Challenger tanks running out of air filters and the welfare package being patchy.

The Guardian

There has been wide concern that thousands of lives are being lost because treatment is patchy.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing data or information, use "patchy" to indicate that the available evidence is incomplete or inconsistent, suggesting further investigation is needed.

Common error

Avoid using "patchy" in vague contexts. Always specify what aspect is "patchy" and, if possible, suggest reasons for the inconsistency or ways to improve it.

Linguistic Context

The term "patchy" primarily functions as an adjective. It is used to describe something that is not uniform or consistent. As seen in Ludwig, it often modifies nouns relating to data, coverage, quality, or performance, indicating unevenness or incompleteness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "patchy" is used to describe something lacking uniformity or consistency, applicable across various contexts from news to business and science. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical usage and high frequency. When writing, using alternatives like "uneven" or "inconsistent" can provide nuance, but ensure "patchy" is always used with sufficient context to avoid vagueness. The term's prevalence in authoritative sources like The Guardian and The Economist underscores its acceptability in both formal and neutral communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uneven

Refers to a lack of uniformity or consistency across a surface or area.

inconsistent

Highlights a lack of regularity or predictability in occurrence or quality.

intermittent

Emphasizes that something stops and starts at intervals.

sporadic

Suggests something occurring irregularly and infrequently.

fragmented

Implies something is broken into pieces or not fully integrated.

erratic

Indicates a lack of predictability or pattern.

unequal

Highlights differences in quality, size, or distribution.

spotty

Suggests the presence of spots or areas where something is lacking.

irregular

Emphasizes a departure from a standard pattern or norm.

variable

Indicates a tendency to change or fluctuate.

FAQs

How can I use "patchy" in a sentence?

You can use "patchy" to describe things that are uneven, inconsistent, or incomplete. For example, "The coverage was patchy, with some areas receiving no attention at all."

What can I say instead of "patchy"?

You can use alternatives like "uneven", "inconsistent", or "sporadic" depending on the context.

Is it correct to describe someone's performance as "patchy"?

Yes, it is acceptable to describe someone's performance as "patchy" to indicate that their performance is inconsistent or variable.

What's the difference between "patchy" and "fragmented"?

"Patchy" suggests unevenness or inconsistency, while "fragmented" implies that something is broken into separate, disconnected parts.