qualified yes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "qualified yes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express agreement with certain conditions or limitations. Example: "While I support the initiative, my response is a qualified yes, as I have concerns about the budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The answer, a qualified yes.

The New York Times

His answer was a strained, qualified yes.

The New York Times

When Mr. Levin asked if that was "a qualified yes," General Petraeus agreed.

The New York Times

"Do I take that to be a qualified yes, a qualified no or just a nonanswer?" he asked.

The New York Times

If the judges give a qualified yes, Ms. Merkel will still have a difficult job convincing her skeptical party — and the German public — that Germany must pay more.

The New York Times

Are these things true? A. A qualified yes to the first part of your question and -- surprisingly -- an emphatic no to the second.

The New York Times

The answer appears to be a qualified yes:A Gallup poll released Monday — which was conducted early April — found zero percent of Americans volunteering "terrorism" as the country's most important problem.

The Economist

The summiteers should give a qualified yes to the first proposition and send their allies in Europe and North America unqualified reassurance on the second.For enlargement to proceed successfully, the EU's own ways of working need to change.

The Economist

"Your position is that, under the Constitution, the advertising for this book or the sale for the book itself could be prohibited within the sixty- and thirty-day periods?" Stewart's answer was a reluctant, qualified yes.

The New Yorker

Asked if Mr Smith might have lived had firefighters not been on strike, Mr Macken gave a very qualified yes "because they might have gained access a bit quicker.

The Guardian

The response they got back was a qualified yes — with both Sandberg and Dorsey saying they keep such content if they have any suspicions.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "qualified yes" when you want to express agreement but need to acknowledge potential problems, limitations, or alternative perspectives. Be sure to clearly state the qualification.

Common error

Avoid using "qualified yes" without explaining what the qualification is. Without context, it can leave the listener confused or uncertain about your actual position.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "qualified yes" functions as an interjection or a short response expressing agreement with reservations. It is used to convey a conditional or limited affirmation. Ludwig shows many examples in which people are responding to a question.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "qualified yes" is a common phrase used to express agreement tempered with reservations or conditions. Ludwig's analysis confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news, business, and professional contexts, reflecting a need for precision and honesty. When using this phrase, ensure you articulate the specific qualification to avoid ambiguity. As Ludwig AI suggests, alternatives like "conditional affirmation" or "yes, but with reservations" can offer similar nuance, ensuring your message is clear and accurately represents your stance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

yes, subject to conditions

Directly states that the agreement depends on meeting certain conditions.

yes, but with reservations

Explicitly states the agreement alongside the presence of reservations.

affirmative with caveats

Similar to "yes, but", it emphasizes the attached conditions or limitations.

conditional affirmation

Replaces "yes" with a more formal synonym, emphasizing the presence of conditions.

guarded agreement

Highlights the cautious or hesitant nature of the agreement.

provisionally affirmative

Emphasizes the tentative and conditional nature of the agreement.

cautious assent

Emphasizes the careful and considered nature of the agreement.

yes, to a certain extent

Indicates agreement is limited and not absolute.

limited endorsement

Indicates support, but not without boundaries or reservations.

reluctant consent

Highlights the hesitancy and lack of enthusiasm in the agreement.

FAQs

How to use "qualified yes" in a sentence?

Use "qualified yes" to express agreement with a condition or reservation. For example, "Is this a good idea? A "qualified yes", but we need to address the risks."

What does "qualified yes" mean?

It means you generally agree with something but have reservations or conditions that need to be considered. It's not a straightforward or unconditional agreement.

What can I say instead of "qualified yes"?

You can use alternatives like "conditional affirmation", "guarded agreement", or "yes, but with reservations" to express a similar sentiment.

Is it better to say "qualified yes" or a simple "yes"?

Use "qualified yes" when a simple "yes" would be misleading because you have significant reservations or conditions. If your agreement is straightforward, a simple "yes" is sufficient.