pretty much even

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretty much even" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that two things are nearly equal or balanced, often in a casual or informal context. Example: "After the negotiations, the final offers were pretty much even, making it hard to choose between the two options."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

We're pretty much even keel.

The New York Times - Sports

Honours pretty much even I'd say.

The Guardian - Sport

Pretty much even before the No vote was fully in.

The Guardian - Opinion

All in all, then, honours pretty much even.

The Guardian - Sport

"We held them to 18 shots, the chances were pretty much even throughout the game.

The New York Times - Sports

"It was a pretty much even game, so the power-play goal was big," Mogilny said.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

That study also found that the children's sleep abilities had all pretty much evened out by age 6.

Huffington Post

Even so, 1st home never goes past the restraining line and pretty much never even comes close to the halfway line.

WikiHow

Even worse, many that do get under way are pretty much useless, even as they suck up the few patients willing to participate.

The New York Times - Health

Because even with a mighty 6.0-liter V-8, the H2 pretty much lumbers even under full gas.

Forbes

She said the center was "pretty much breaking even".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretty much even" to convey a sense of near equality or balance without needing precise measurements. It is best suited for informal contexts where a close approximation is sufficient.

Common error

Avoid using "pretty much even" in formal academic or business writing. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "nearly equal" or "approximately equivalent" to maintain a higher level of formality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty much even" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate the extent or degree to which something is even or balanced. As Ludwig AI says, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Sport

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pretty much even" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to express that two or more things are nearly equal or balanced. As Ludwig AI states, it's usable in written English. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Sport contexts. While suitable for many situations, it's best to avoid using "pretty much even" in highly formal academic or business writing, where more precise language is preferred. Alternatives include "almost equal" or "nearly equal". Remember to use it to suggest close approximation rather than an exact match.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost equal

Replaces "pretty much" with "almost", slightly reducing the emphasis on approximation.

nearly equal

Substitutes "pretty much" with "nearly", offering a more formal tone.

virtually the same

Emphasizes the indistinguishability of the items being compared.

roughly equivalent

Indicates an approximate equivalence, suitable for less precise comparisons.

more or less identical

Highlights the high degree of similarity between the subjects.

in the same ballpark

Offers a more informal way to express that the items are close in value or amount.

neck and neck

Specifically used to describe a close competition or race.

on par with

Implies that something is of equal standard or quality.

almost on a par

Highlights that something is close to being of equal standard or quality.

close to parity

Indicates an approximation to a state of equality

FAQs

What does "pretty much even" mean?

The phrase "pretty much even" indicates that two or more things are nearly equal or balanced. It suggests a close approximation rather than an exact match.

How can I use "pretty much even" in a sentence?

You can use "pretty much even" to describe situations where quantities, scores, or qualities are almost the same. For example, "After the first round, the scores were pretty much even."

What can I say instead of "pretty much even"?

You can use alternatives like "almost equal", "nearly equal", or "roughly equivalent" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "pretty much even" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "pretty much even" is more suitable for informal contexts. In formal writing, consider using more precise alternatives such as "approximately equal" or "virtually the same".