pretty quickly

USAGE SUMMARY

"pretty quickly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the speed of something, and is often used informally. Example: "I was able to finish the project pretty quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Things moved pretty quickly.

The New York Times

Things took off pretty quickly.

Princeton University

That can happen pretty quickly.

Yale University

"It accepts you pretty quickly.

The New York Times

Things get complicated pretty quickly.

The New York Times

"You'd get discouraged pretty quickly.

Independent

"Assimilate" came along pretty quickly.

The New Yorker

I caught on pretty quickly.

The New York Times

It got crowded pretty quickly.

The New York Times

"The tree dies pretty quickly".

The New York Times

And we did, pretty quickly".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretty quickly" in informal contexts to describe actions or events that happen faster than expected or within a reasonable timeframe. It adds a touch of casualness to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "pretty quickly" in formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "rapidly", "expeditiously", or "swiftly" to maintain a consistent tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty quickly" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate the speed or pace at which an action is performed or a state changes. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

19%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pretty quickly" is a common adverbial phrase used to indicate that something happens at a relatively fast pace. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While versatile, it leans toward informal contexts, making it less suitable for formal or academic writing where alternatives like "rapidly" or "expeditiously" might be more appropriate. It appears frequently in news and media, academia, and wiki sources, and less so in scientific or formal business contexts. When choosing alternatives, consider options such as "fairly rapidly" or "somewhat promptly" to convey similar meanings with subtle differences in formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly rapidly

Similar in meaning but emphasizes the speed of the action or event.

rather rapidly

Emphasizes a slightly more formal tone than "pretty quickly".

reasonably fast

Highlights the speed while maintaining a neutral and moderate tone.

somewhat promptly

Indicates a degree of speed with a hint of formality and efficiency.

moderately swiftly

A more formal alternative that emphasizes speed and smoothness.

in short order

Implies speed and efficiency in completing a task or process.

without delay

Stresses the immediacy and lack of hesitation in taking action.

with some haste

Indicates a hurried or rushed manner.

expeditiously

A formal term indicating efficiency and speed in achieving something.

before long

Emphasizes that something will happen soon, rather than the speed of an action.

FAQs

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

You can use "pretty quickly" to describe the speed at which something happens. For example, "The software installed "pretty quickly"" or "He learned the new skills "pretty quickly"".

What are some alternatives to "pretty quickly"?

Alternatives to "pretty quickly" include "fairly rapidly", "somewhat promptly", or "reasonably fast". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

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

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

What does "pretty quickly" emphasize in a sentence?

"Pretty quickly" emphasizes that something happened faster than might have been expected or within a relatively short timeframe. It adds a touch of informality to the description of speed.