pretty damn good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretty damn good" is a completely valid and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it in informal contexts to emphasize that something is very good. For example, "That chocolate cake you made was pretty damn good!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Pretty damn good.

The Guardian - Sport

It's still pretty damn good.

Independent

Things are pretty damn good.

The New Yorker

That is pretty damn good.

The Guardian - Sport

Obviously it's pretty damn good.

The Guardian - Sport

It's not perfect but pretty damn good.

The Guardian - Money

Stumpf's chances look pretty damn good.

The Guardian - Opinion

Janine's had a pretty damn good career.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Briefly, that they're pretty damn good.

The Guardian - Books

And I'm doing pretty damn good," he said.

Independent

"And what she knew was pretty damn good".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for a humorous tone, "pretty damn good" can be effective. However, be mindful of your audience and the context, as the phrase contains a mild expletive.

Common error

Avoid using "pretty damn good" in formal contexts such as academic papers, business reports, or official correspondence. Choose more professional alternatives to maintain a suitable tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty damn good" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to express a high degree of approval or satisfaction. Ludwig's examples show it used to describe a wide range of subjects, from movies to skills, emphasizing positive qualities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Wiki

1%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pretty damn good" is an informal adjectival phrase used to express strong approval or satisfaction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used, primarily in news and media sources. While effective for conveying enthusiasm, it should be avoided in formal contexts due to its register. Alternatives like "remarkably good" or "exceptionally good" can be used in more professional settings. Remember to consider your audience and the overall tone when deciding whether to use "pretty damn good".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

really excellent

Substitutes "damn" with "excellent", maintaining a high degree of positivity while avoiding profanity.

exceptionally good

Uses a stronger and more formal adjective, increasing the level of approval slightly.

seriously impressive

Uses a slang-like intensifier to indicate a high level of impressiveness.

remarkably good

Replaces the informal intensifier with a more formal adverb, reducing the emphasis.

positively stellar

Employs a more colourful and evocative adjective to express exceptional quality.

incredibly impressive

Shifts the focus to the impact or effect of something, rather than its general quality.

extremely satisfying

Focuses on the feeling of satisfaction derived from something.

outstandingly well

Modifies a verb or action, indicating that something was done to a very high standard.

quite magnificent

Replaces the intensifier with "quite" and uses the adjective "magnificent" for heightened expression and formality.

surprisingly effective

Adds an element of unexpectedness to the positive assessment.

FAQs

How can I use "pretty damn good" in a sentence?

You can use "pretty damn good" to express strong approval or satisfaction. For example, "The movie was "pretty damn good", I highly recommend it" or "Her presentation skills are "pretty damn good"".

What are some alternatives to "pretty damn good"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "remarkably good", "exceptionally good", or "really excellent" to convey a similar meaning with varying degrees of formality.

Is "pretty damn good" appropriate for formal writing?

No, "pretty damn good" is generally considered informal and should be avoided in formal writing. Use more professional alternatives like "very good" or "highly satisfactory" in formal contexts.

What's the difference between "pretty damn good" and "pretty darn good"?

"Pretty darn good" is a euphemistic substitute for ""pretty damn good"", replacing the mild profanity with a softer word. Both phrases convey a similar meaning, but "pretty darn good" is considered more polite and suitable for wider audiences.