pretty fast

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretty fast" is correct and can be used in written English.
You could use it in situations when you want to express that something is being done or has happened quickly or at a fast speed. For example, "My computer was able to download the file pretty fast."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That was pretty fast.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

That's pretty fast".

The New York Times

It happened pretty fast".

The New York Times - Sports

"It's rising pretty fast".

The New York Times

"It's happening pretty fast".

The New York Times - Arts

I felt pretty fast.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's pretty fast".

The New York Times

That's pretty fast, huh?

The Guardian - Sport

He's pretty fast".

The Guardian - Sport

I'm pretty fast sideways.

The New York Times

Andrew: It's pretty fast.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretty fast" to describe actions or processes that occur quicker than expected, adding a touch of casualness to your tone. For example, "The new software updates installed pretty fast."

Common error

Avoid using "pretty fast" in formal or professional writing where a more sophisticated word choice like "rapidly" or "swiftly" would be more appropriate. This maintains a higher degree of professionalism and precision in your communication.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "pretty fast" is as an adverbial phrase modifying verbs or adverbs to indicate the speed or pace at which an action is performed. Ludwig's examples show its usage in various contexts to express quickness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Sports

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pretty fast" is a common and grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to describe the relative speed of an action or event. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness for written English. Its usage is widespread across various contexts, particularly in news, sports, and casual conversation, though it's less suited for strictly formal or scientific writing where terms like "rapidly" or "swiftly" might be preferred. It's important to consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing when deciding whether to use "pretty fast" or a more formal synonym.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite rapidly

Emphasizes speed and efficiency, differing in formality.

moving quickly

Focuses on the action of moving with speed.

at a rapid pace

Highlights the speed of progress or movement, more formal.

with great speed

Emphasizes the intensity of speed, slightly more dramatic.

in a flash

Implies suddenness and extreme speed.

swiftly

A more formal synonym indicating quickness.

in short order

Indicates that something is done quickly and efficiently.

posthaste

An archaic term for doing something very quickly.

lickety-split

An informal idiom for doing something quickly.

in a jiffy

An informal idiom for doing something quickly and easily.

FAQs

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

You can use "pretty fast" to describe the speed of an action or event, such as "The delivery was "pretty fast"" or "She learned the new software "pretty fast"".

What are some alternatives to "pretty fast"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "quite rapidly", "moving quickly", or "at a rapid pace".

Is "pretty fast" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "pretty fast" is generally more suitable for informal contexts. In formal writing, consider using more professional alternatives like "rapidly" or "swiftly".

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

"Pretty fast" implies a speed that is noticeably quick, but not necessarily the absolute quickest. "Very fast" suggests a higher degree of speed compared to ""pretty fast"".