qualified success

USAGE SUMMARY

"qualified success" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation or outcome that was successful to some degree, but not completely or fully. Example: Although the launch of the new product was a qualified success, sales did not reach the expected levels.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But Ballet Who?! is at best a qualified success.

The Guardian

Will the reset prove just as temporary?Both countries consider it a qualified success so far.

The Economist

But Mr. Nasaw sees the strike as a stunning, if qualified, success.

The New York Times

As a family-friendly game, it's varied, entertaining and a (qualified) success.

The Guardian - Tech

Previous containment efforts relied on spraying larvicide, which had qualified success in reducing the fly population.

The New York Times - Magazine

By giving it as its single staged production, Mozartwoche meets expectations for novelty and achieves a solid, if qualified success.

The New York Times - Arts

Thus it was that I considered my experimental visit to a local Olive Garden a qualified success.

The New York Times

The FAI felt that Trapattoni's position had become untenable; that the players were no longer responding to his methods, which had brought qualified success during his tenure.

The Guardian - Sport

In a response to the watchdog agency's report, Christine Lagarde, the managing director of I.M.F., called the fund's involvement in Europe a qualified success.

The New York Times

Although we rarely got big ratings, all in all, I'd say "failed" doesn't apply; could you grant Mr. Cavett at least a qualified success?

The New York Times - Arts

This is true even of the Gothic, which Hegel takes as an ultimate (if qualified) success in the history of architecture for its metaphorical communication of spirit.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "qualified success" when you want to acknowledge progress or achievement while also noting limitations or areas for improvement.

Common error

Avoid using "qualified success" when the outcome was overwhelmingly positive. Reserve it for situations where significant caveats apply.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "qualified success" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "qualified" modifies the noun "success". It describes the degree or type of success achieved, indicating it wasn't absolute. Ludwig shows the term is used to describe varied outcomes, from projects to personal achievements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "qualified success" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe an outcome that is partially successful but has limitations. As Ludwig highlights, the phrase appears frequently in news, science, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to be aware of the degree of success and avoid overstating positive outcomes when substantial caveats exist. Alternatives like "moderate success" or "partial triumph" can be used to convey a similar meaning. "Qualified success" is a versatile phrase for providing a balanced assessment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderate success

Indicates a level of success that is neither high nor low.

relative success

Suggests that the success is dependent on a comparison or specific criteria.

partial triumph

Implies that the success was incomplete or limited in scope.

mixed results

Indicates that there were both positive and negative outcomes.

limited achievement

Highlights the restricted nature of the accomplishment.

restrained accomplishment

Indicates that the success was achieved but perhaps not fully realized.

incomplete victory

Implies the success lacks some important element to be considered as a whole.

conditional victory

Emphasizes the presence of conditions or limitations on the success.

guarded success

Expresses a cautious or hesitant view of the success.

limited progress

Highlights the incremental nature of the advancement.

FAQs

How can I use "qualified success" in a sentence?

You can use "qualified success" to describe an outcome that had positive aspects but also some limitations. For example, "The project was a "qualified success", as we met some goals but missed others."

What's a good alternative to "qualified success"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "moderate success", "partial triumph", or "limited achievement".

Is it ever wrong to use "qualified success"?

It might be misleading if the success was overwhelming or nearly complete. In such cases, "complete success" or "major achievement" would be more appropriate.

What distinguishes "qualified success" from "complete success"?

"Qualified success" implies that while some objectives were met, others were not, or that there are significant caveats. "Complete success", on the other hand, suggests that all goals were achieved without major drawbacks.