pretty tell

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretty tell" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It seems to be a miscombination of words and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "I can't pretty tell you what happened yesterday."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Don't tell me I'm pretty, tell me I'm smart … and funny, artistic, kind, loving, friendly, unique, strong, fierce and clever.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"That, I think, is pretty telling".

The New York Times

I think it's pretty telling.

The New York Times

As a metaphor for death, it's pretty telling.

The New York Times - Arts

"It's pretty telling about the sport when people are laughing about that kind of stuff".

Independent

So yes, we didn't get to see the full explosion (oh, for another five minutes!) but the early indicators were pretty telling.

Independent

This is a pretty telling thing: We weren't going to get a lot of time, so it meant we really had to listen.

The New York Times

Niederauer: Yeah, pretty telling.

Forbes

And that's pretty telling….

TechCrunch

The results are pretty telling about the habits of flagship smartphone owners, if not entirely surprising.

TechCrunch

That's pretty telling to me.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "pretty tell" in formal writing. Opt for more grammatically correct alternatives such as "fairly indicate" or "somewhat suggest" to maintain clarity and credibility.

Common error

A common mistake is to assume "pretty" can directly modify "tell" to mean 'somewhat' or 'fairly' tell. This is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use adverbs that are conventionally paired with "tell", such as "clearly", "honestly", or "vividly", or replace the entire phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty tell" attempts to function as a verb phrase where "pretty" modifies "tell", aiming to express a degree of certainty or completeness in conveying information. However, this usage is not grammatically correct in standard English, as Ludwig AI also indicates.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pretty tell" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. As Ludwig AI confirms, it represents a miscombination of words. While the intention might be to convey a sense of partial or qualified indication, it's advisable to use more established alternatives such as "fairly indicate", "somewhat suggest", or other similar phrases to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy. Given the limited examples and the grammatical issues, it's best to avoid "pretty tell" in formal writing. Considering that the prevalent sources on Ludwig are News and Media outlets, sticking to a neutral register when rephrasing is also a good practice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly indicate

Replaces "pretty tell" with a more grammatically sound phrase to suggest something is being pointed out with a moderate level of certainty.

somewhat suggest

This alternative maintains the meaning of suggesting something, but with a degree of uncertainty.

rather demonstrate

Instead of 'telling', this option focuses on 'demonstrating' to make something evident.

largely imply

Shifts the focus to 'implying' something, which means indicating it indirectly.

generally reveal

Emphasizes the act of 'revealing' information, implying that something is being disclosed.

vaguely express

This suggests that an idea is being communicated in an unclear or uncertain manner.

reasonably show

Focuses on 'showing' something in a way that's considered reasonable or justifiable.

moderately inform

Highlights the act of 'informing' to a moderate extent, suggesting a partial communication of information.

partially explain

This alternative is focused on giving an account or reason for something only in part.

slightly signify

Focuses on the action to signify or mean something but only to a small degree.

FAQs

What does "pretty tell" mean?

The phrase "pretty tell" is not a standard or grammatically correct expression in English. It is likely intended to convey 'to indicate somewhat' or 'to fairly explain', but it is best to use more conventional phrasing.

How can I use the idea of "pretty tell" in a sentence correctly?

Instead of "pretty tell", use alternatives like "fairly indicate", "somewhat suggest", or "partially explain" to clearly convey your intended meaning.

What are some alternatives to "pretty tell"?

Some alternatives include "fairly indicate", "somewhat suggest", "largely imply", "generally reveal", or "moderately inform" depending on the specific nuance you want to express.

Is "pretty tell" grammatically correct?

No, "pretty tell" is not grammatically correct. The adverb "pretty" does not typically modify the verb "tell" in standard English. Using alternatives will ensure your writing is clear and grammatically sound.