pretty of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretty of" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It seems to be a misconstruction and does not convey a clear meaning in standard English. Example: "She is pretty of a singer" is incorrect.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

It's pretty, of course – the Great Bear Rainforest in western Canada has lovely scenery, waterfalls, cute cubs.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

All the cheeerleaders were pretty of course but everyone-everyone-would have picked out one girl, near the middle of the front line, as the prettiest.

The New Yorker

Writer, a medical student at McGill University, is about to be kissed by Gertie, the eldest & least pretty of the lab girls.

The New Yorker

The snowy woods, the red barn, the giant wreath: it's pretty, of course, but didn't the Preys send an image just like it a few years back?

The New Yorker

Frankly, a new wooden cabinet was cause for a thrill - "I did buy one cost me £11, which is very pretty, of walnutt-tree, and will come home to-morrow," he reveals with excitement.

The Guardian

The reasons why it's a hot topic aren't too pretty, of course; high levels of unemployment, intense competition for roles, rising tuition fees and a damaging and widespread culture of unpaid internships.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Much better to buy the kind of pretty, of-the-moment accessory that doesn't need to have a fancy label.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was pretty out of control.

The New Yorker

"They got pretty out of hand".

The New York Times

The torture, maiming and dismemberment of pretty women, of course.

The New York Times

Lots of pretty pictures of Disney stuff.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "pretty of" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "quite a" or "rather a" to maintain clarity and professionalism.

Common error

Don't use "pretty of" when you intend to intensify an adjective. Instead of saying "She is pretty of a singer", correctly state "She is quite a singer" or "She is rather a singer".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty of" primarily attempts to function as an intensifier combined with a preposition. However, Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically incorrect. It does not adhere to standard English sentence structure, attempting to modify a noun with an adjective and preposition in an unidiomatic way.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pretty of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While it appears in some informal contexts, particularly in news and media, its usage is non-standard and should be avoided in formal writing. The intended purpose is often to intensify a quality or characteristic, but this is better achieved using alternatives like "quite a" or "rather a". Therefore, it is recommended to opt for grammatically correct and widely accepted phrases to ensure clarity and professionalism in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite a

Emphasizes the degree or extent of a quality or characteristic, replacing the grammatically unsound "pretty of".

rather a

Indicates a degree or extent, offering a more standard construction than "pretty of".

very

Focuses on intensifying an adjective, providing a simple and correct alternative.

quite

Similar to "very", but with a slightly different nuance in intensity.

somewhat

Suggests a moderate degree of something, replacing the incorrect usage of "pretty of".

fairly

Indicates a reasonable degree, providing a grammatically correct substitute.

kind of

Represents a more casual way of expressing a degree or quality.

sort of

Offers an informal way to suggest a quality or characteristic.

beautiful

Uses a different adjective to replace "pretty" while still conveying attractiveness.

attractive

Another adjective substitute for "pretty" to describe pleasing aesthetics.

FAQs

Is "pretty of" grammatically correct?

No, "pretty of" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "quite a" or "rather a" instead.

What can I say instead of "pretty of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "quite a", "rather a", or simply "very".

Which is correct, "pretty of" or "pretty much"?

"Pretty much" is a correct and commonly used phrase, meaning 'nearly' or 'almost'. "Pretty of", on the other hand, is generally not correct and should be avoided.

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

Use "pretty" as an adjective (e.g., "She is a pretty girl") or as an adverb modifying another adjective (e.g., "It's pretty cold outside"). Avoid using it in constructions like "pretty of".