pretty much so

USAGE SUMMARY

"pretty much so" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate agreement or to emphasize a point you are making. For example, you might say, "I think it's time to move on—pretty much so."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Scotland have since been terrible, pretty much, so.

The Guardian - Sport

Does she have the final edit? "Pretty much so.

The Guardian - Books

He was playing on a broken leg, pretty much, so I was definitely pulling for Tiger.

The New York Times - Sports

In effect, they will be saying that the right to interpret history belongs -- if not exclusively, then pretty much so -- to those whom history has bruised the most.

The New York Times

Navellier: Pretty much so, yes.

Forbes

It was pretty much, "So how was your life?

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"We pretty much stay so busy".

The New York Times

It was at a new school that was pretty much finished, so I was only there three days.

The New York Times

Before China embraced capitalism in 1979, workers were poor, but pretty much equally so.

The Guardian - Opinion

I was born a deep brown, and have pretty much remained so all my life.

The Guardian

Brass and woodwind instruments around the world have been pretty much standardized; so have interpretations.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretty much so" when you want to express agreement or affirmation in a slightly informal way. It's suitable for conversational or journalistic writing but avoid it in very formal academic papers.

Common error

Avoid using "pretty much so" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and formal alternatives like "largely", "essentially", or "to a significant extent" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty much so" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a preceding statement to express agreement or affirmation. It is often used to confirm or emphasize something, as demonstrated by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pretty much so" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to express agreement or affirmation, but Ludwig AI indicates it is relatively rare. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While acceptable in conversation and some journalistic writing, it should be avoided in formal academic or business settings in favor of more precise language. Alternatives include phrases such as "essentially yes" or "largely the case", depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more or less

Indicates an approximation or general agreement.

for the most part

Indicates that something is true in most instances.

almost entirely

Replaces "pretty much" with "almost", indicating near completeness.

by and large

Similar to 'for the most part' but with a slightly more informal tone.

virtually the same

Shifts the focus to similarity rather than affirmation.

essentially yes

Combines the affirmative 'yes' with the qualifying 'essentially'.

largely the case

Emphasizes that the statement is generally true.

practically speaking

Adds a practical perspective to the agreement.

in effect

Highlights the actual result or outcome.

to a great extent

Emphasizes the degree or scale of agreement.

FAQs

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

"Pretty much so" is often used to confirm something or indicate agreement. For example, "Is that all you need? Pretty much so."

What's a more formal alternative to "pretty much so"?

More formal alternatives include phrases like "essentially yes", "largely the case", or "to a great extent". Consider the context when choosing a replacement.

Is it appropriate to use "pretty much so" in academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "pretty much so" might be too informal for academic writing. It's generally better to use more precise and formal language in academic contexts.

What's the difference between "more or less" and "pretty much so"?

"Pretty much so" indicates stronger agreement or affirmation, while "more or less" suggests an approximation or general similarity. The nuance lies in the degree of certainty or precision conveyed.