pretty hefty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretty hefty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is large, heavy, or significant in size or amount. Example: "The bill for the repairs was pretty hefty, leaving me with little money for the rest of the month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's a pretty hefty guarantee.

The New York Times

"It's a pretty hefty increase".

The New York Times - Health

It's a pretty hefty deal".

The New York Times

That's a pretty hefty set of requirements.

Harvard Business Review

Not a record, but still pretty hefty.

The Guardian - Money

But a farmer has some pretty hefty fixed costs.

The New York Times

"He looked like he was pretty hefty," Mr. Miller said.

The New York Times

In rowing terms, this was a pretty hefty drubbing.

The Guardian - Sport

I think a pretty hefty percentage of Quakers actually freed slaves.

Yale University

Instead, Mr. Corzine must rely on MF Global's insurance – and it had two pretty hefty policies.

The New York Times

That seems like a pretty hefty price to pay just for a pledge.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretty hefty" to describe something noticeably large or significant, but avoid overuse to maintain impact. For example, "That's a "pretty hefty" discount on the new car."

Common error

While "pretty hefty" is acceptable in many contexts, it may sound too informal for academic papers or business reports. Opt for more precise and formal alternatives like "substantial" or "significant" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty hefty" primarily functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun. It intensifies the degree or size of the noun it describes, indicating that something is noticeably large or substantial. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pretty hefty" is a common and generally acceptable adjective phrase used to emphasize the size, weight, or impact of something. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and widespread use, particularly in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's crucial to consider the formality of the writing context; opting for more precise alternatives like "substantial" or "significant" in academic or business settings can enhance professionalism. Remember that while "pretty hefty" can add emphasis, overusing it may dilute its impact. Overall, it is appropriate in many contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite substantial

Emphasizes the largeness or significance of something, differing slightly in tone.

fairly large

Indicates considerable size or amount, providing a more neutral tone.

considerably big

Highlights the bigness in a more emphatic way.

reasonably significant

Focuses on the importance or impact of something, rather than just its size.

noticeably large

Points out the largeness as being easily observed.

appreciably greater

Stresses an increase or difference that is easily perceived or measured.

moderately immense

Suggests something is large, but not to an extreme degree.

remarkably sizable

Highlights the size as being worthy of attention.

genuinely weighty

Implies literal or figurative heaviness and importance.

truly massive

Indicates something is of very large scale.

FAQs

What does "pretty hefty" mean?

The phrase "pretty hefty" means something is quite large, substantial, or significant in size, amount, or impact. It's a way to emphasize that something is considerably more than average.

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

You can use "pretty hefty" to describe costs, sizes, weights, or any other measurable quantity. For example, "The repair bill for the car was a "pretty hefty" amount."

What are some alternatives to "pretty hefty"?

Alternatives to "pretty hefty" include "quite substantial", "fairly large", or "considerably big depending" on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "pretty hefty" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "pretty hefty" may be too informal for academic or business writing. In such cases, consider more formal alternatives like "significant", "substantial", or "considerable".