pretty easy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretty easy" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is a colloquial expression used to describe something that is simple or not difficult to do. It is often used in a casual or informal context. Example: "Learning how to use this new software was pretty easy. The instructions were clear and I picked it up quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So, that's pretty easy.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

That's pretty easy.

Yale University

It is pretty easy".

The New York Times

"It looked pretty easy.

The New York Times

Sounds pretty easy, right?

The New Yorker

It's pretty easy math".

The Guardian - Sport

That makes it pretty easy.

Stanford University

It's pretty easy so far.

Harvard University

That's pretty easy to do.

Yale University

And choices were pretty easy.

Yale University

That was pretty easy, right?

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretty easy" in informal settings to convey simplicity or lack of difficulty. While acceptable in casual conversation and writing, it may be less appropriate for formal or technical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "pretty easy" in academic papers, business reports, or technical documents. Opt for more formal alternatives like "straightforward", "simple", or "easily manageable" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty easy" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe its level of simplicity or lack of difficulty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct. Examples show it used to describe tasks, concepts, or situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

41%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pretty easy" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something as simple or not difficult, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While versatile, its informal register makes it more suitable for casual contexts than formal writing. It's frequently found in news and media, as well as academic settings. Remember to consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing when deciding whether to use "pretty easy" or a more formal alternative such as "quite simple" or "fairly straightforward".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite simple

Replaces "easy" with "simple" and "pretty" with "quite", implying a straightforward nature.

fairly straightforward

Substitutes "easy" with "straightforward", suggesting a lack of complexity in a process or task, and "pretty" with "fairly".

relatively simple

Uses "simple" instead of "easy" and "relatively" in place of "pretty", indicating a moderate degree of ease.

not too difficult

Expresses the idea by negating difficulty, offering a more descriptive alternative.

rather uncomplicated

Replaces "easy" with "uncomplicated", highlighting a lack of complexity, and "pretty" with "rather".

somewhat effortless

Replaces "easy" with "effortless", suggesting minimal exertion is required, and "pretty" with "somewhat".

moderately manageable

Suggests that something is controllable and not overly challenging, using more formal language.

reasonably achievable

Focuses on the attainability of something without significant difficulty, using a more formal tone.

easily accomplished

Emphasizes the successful completion of a task with ease, using a slightly more formal structure.

a breeze

An idiom that indicates something is very easy and quick to do, offering a more informal and figurative alternative.

FAQs

What does "pretty easy" mean?

The phrase "pretty easy" means something is quite simple or not difficult to do. It's a colloquial way of saying something is manageable without much effort.

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

You might say, "The instructions were so clear that assembling the furniture was "pretty easy"" or "Learning the basics of coding was "pretty easy" thanks to the online tutorials".

What are some alternatives to saying "pretty easy"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "quite simple", "fairly straightforward", or "not too difficult". The best choice depends on the level of formality required.

Is it okay to use "pretty easy" in academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "pretty easy" is generally considered too informal for academic writing. Opt for more formal alternatives like "relatively simple" or "easily accomplished" to maintain a professional tone.