pretty anxious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretty anxious" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a moderate level of anxiety or nervousness about a situation. Example: "I was pretty anxious before my job interview, but I felt more confident once I arrived."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

"Pretty anxious, really".

Independent

"It makes me pretty anxious".

The New York Times

"And in today's market, buyers are pretty anxious".

The New York Times

You would feel pretty anxious, too, if you couldn't feel one side of your body.

The New York Times

Those were some pretty anxious moments, and it's heartening to see where we are now.

The New York Times

"I'm pretty anxious, but I'm used to it," Ms. Bar said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

Somewhat anxious?

WikiHow

Mr. Ward described his team as "pretty darn anxious".

The New York Times

It makes me think you're pretty scared and anxious—I've been there before.

Huffington Post

That is, I can remember them in vivid detail and they're usually pretty dark and anxious.

Huffington Post

This works well for Lauren, who is actually not so trifling as the others; she was always much more wary and anxious than a pretty teenager should have any cause to be.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretty anxious" to convey a moderate level of anxiety, avoiding stronger terms like "terrified" if the situation doesn't warrant it.

Common error

Avoid using "pretty anxious" repeatedly in close proximity. Vary your language with synonyms such as "somewhat worried" or "slightly concerned" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty anxious" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of moderate worry or nervousness. As Ludwig indicates, this phrase is a common way to express feelings of unease in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pretty anxious" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to express a moderate degree of worry or nervousness. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While perfectly acceptable, writers should be mindful of overusing it and consider alternatives such as "somewhat anxious" or "fairly concerned" to add variety to their writing. Ludwig AI also suggests that its register is neutral, making it suitable for both informal and news-related content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

really anxious

Emphasizes a stronger feeling of anxiety compared to "pretty anxious".

rather anxious

Indicates a slightly elevated degree of anxiety compared to "pretty anxious".

fairly anxious

Similar in intensity to "pretty anxious", indicating a moderate level of worry.

quite anxious

Implies a slightly higher level of anxiety than "pretty anxious".

very anxious

Indicates a significantly higher level of anxiety.

somewhat anxious

Suggests a milder form of anxiety than "pretty anxious".

a bit anxious

Suggests a lower level of anxiety, implying mild concern.

slightly anxious

Similar to "a bit anxious", indicating a minimal level of worry.

somewhat apprehensive

Replaces "anxious" with "apprehensive", conveying a similar feeling of unease.

fairly concerned

Shifts the focus to concern, suggesting a level of worry about a specific issue.

FAQs

How can I use "pretty anxious" in a sentence?

You can use "pretty anxious" to describe a moderate level of worry or nervousness. For example, "I was "pretty anxious" before the presentation."

What are some alternatives to saying "pretty anxious"?

You can use alternatives like "somewhat anxious", "fairly anxious", or "a bit anxious" to express similar feelings with slightly different nuances.

Is it correct to say "pretty anxious", or should I use another word?

The phrase "pretty anxious" is correct and commonly used to express a moderate level of anxiety. Its appropriateness depends on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "pretty anxious" and "very anxious"?

"Pretty anxious" suggests a moderate level of anxiety, while "very anxious" indicates a much higher and more intense feeling of worry or nervousness.