quite okay

USAGE SUMMARY

"quite okay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is satisfactory, but not great - for instance, "I thought my presentation was quite okay, but there were still some areas I could have improved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

People who are building a service which I pay for with my privacy or money I'm quite okay with.

The Guardian - Tech

Which leaves me pretty much alone (apart from Massachusetts senator Scott Brown) thinking it was, within the class of "Republican speeches on health care", quite okay.

The Economist

They always seem to don't want me to be photographed going out the front door or I don't want to be, but it also happens to be a shortcut to my apartment, so it's quite okay.

The New Yorker

Some are quite okay today and quite willing to go to India, whereas others are saying, "not for a while".

Forbes

On the other hand, energy has been strong, some parts of manufacturing have been strong, and telecommunications [providers] have been quite okay.

Forbes

I'm quite okay at that.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Humorous, brilliant, knows all kinds of things and is more than willing to go on about them, a bit eccentric -- okay, quite eccentric -- very associative, endlessly curious, a man of peace who is, well, quite militant, as his opponents frequently come to learn.

Huffington Post

For the C-PRS scale 104 parents reported it was easy, 22 quite easy, 37 okay, 2 quite difficult and none found it difficult to complete (n=165).

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

For the MORS (child) scale 110 parents found it easy to complete, 17 quite easy, 35 okay, none quite difficult and one parent said it was difficult to complete (n=163).

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

"It suggests that using quite disproportionate force is okay".

The Economist

Scott Gomez (okay, not quite as old) was invited to training camp, too.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quite okay" when you want to express a moderate level of approval or satisfaction, but avoid it in situations where strong praise or enthusiasm is needed.

Common error

While "quite okay" is generally acceptable, overuse in formal writing can make your tone sound less confident or less enthusiastic than intended. Opt for stronger, more precise adjectives in professional or academic settings to convey your meaning more effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite okay" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a moderate degree of acceptability or satisfaction. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, suggesting it describes something satisfactory, though not exceptional.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "quite okay" is a grammatically correct and usable adjective phrase that conveys a moderate level of satisfaction or acceptability. Ludwig AI indicates that it is best used when you want to express something is satisfactory but not particularly outstanding. While found in diverse contexts, it is most prevalent in news and media. For more formal situations, consider stronger alternatives. While not inappropriate, being mindful about the use of alternatives, can help to use more powerful adjectives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reasonably acceptable

Emphasizes acceptability but implies a limit to the degree of acceptance.

fairly decent

Indicates that something is better than average, but not exceptionally so.

moderately satisfactory

Highlights a middling level of satisfaction, not exceeding expectations.

somewhat agreeable

Highlights that something is pleasant or acceptable to a certain extent.

not bad at all

A more informal way of saying something is good, but without strong enthusiasm.

passably good

Suggests that something meets the minimum requirements to be considered good.

good enough

Indicates that something meets the minimum requirements and needs no improvement.

sufficiently adequate

Focuses on adequacy as being the defining characteristic, rather than excelling.

tolerably well

Implies a level of acceptance that is just above the threshold of being unbearable.

serviceable enough

Emphasizes the functional aspect, indicating it serves its purpose without being exceptional.

FAQs

How can I use "quite okay" in a sentence?

You can use "quite okay" to describe something that is satisfactory but not exceptional. For example: "The food was "quite okay", but I've had better."

What's a more formal alternative to "quite okay"?

If you're looking for a more formal alternative, consider using phrases like "reasonably acceptable" or "moderately satisfactory".

Is "quite okay" suitable for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "quite okay" might be perceived as too informal for academic writing. Consider using stronger or more precise adjectives to better convey your meaning.

What's the difference between "quite okay" and "very good"?

"Quite okay" suggests a moderate level of satisfaction, while "very good" implies a higher degree of approval or excellence.