rather acceptable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather acceptable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a moderate level of approval or agreement with something, indicating that it is acceptable to a certain extent. Example: "The proposal was rather acceptable, considering the constraints we were working under."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

That strikes me as a rather acceptable solution, since the man isn't known for his acrobatic stagecraft.

The Guardian - Music

The spectating populations must certainly never know everything about terrorism, but they must always know enough to convince them that, compared with terrorism, everything else seems rather acceptable, in any case more rational and democratic".

The Guardian - Opinion

In our tests we found both of them to be rather acceptable and a great deal for the price.

TechCrunch

Postulation on the dependency between photon absorption and architecture of materials in improving its optical properties can be rather acceptable.

Nanoscale Research Letters

So long as we can engage the bad guys at a distance with our cruise missiles, precision bombs, and drones, it all feels rather acceptable.

Huffington Post

For loading efficiency, it was 11.26% which is rather acceptable but the error percent for RE300 is quiet large, that is, 26.6%.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"A pediatric unit is a disguised mental health facility . . . and rather more acceptable than one with an alternative title," Meadow wrote.

The New Yorker

"It was sort of wistful, talking to your wife or visiting your mother in a nursing home, mentioning a lot of interstate-highway numbers, all in a rather bland, acceptable style.

The New Yorker

Rather, publicly acceptable standards are those that rely on common sense, on facts generally known, and on the conclusions of science that are well established and not controversial.

SEP

This change calls for different practical design strategies; focusing on the peak experience of a few rather than acceptable performance for many.

Interacting with Computers

Let's make violence unacceptable rather than acceptable in our nation which leads the world's industrialized nations in military expenditures, in number of guns sold and in circulation (an estimated 300 million), and in child, youth, and adult civilian gun deaths.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for professional or formal communication, consider "rather acceptable" for a nuanced expression of moderate approval. Using stronger terms might suggest complete agreement, while weaker terms could imply disapproval. It's about finding the right balance.

Common error

Avoid using "rather acceptable" when the situation calls for stronger affirmation. Using it in situations where you fully agree might dilute the impact of your statement. Instead, opt for terms like "highly satisfactory" or "completely acceptable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather acceptable" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It indicates a moderate level of approval or agreement. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It's used to express that something meets a certain standard without necessarily being exceptional.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

58%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather acceptable" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that expresses a moderate level of approval. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples from various sources. It is most commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts, and its register is typically neutral to formal. When using this phrase, be mindful of the specific level of acceptance you want to convey and avoid overstating your approval when a stronger affirmation is more appropriate. Related phrases like "fairly adequate" or "reasonably satisfactory" can be useful alternatives depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Acceptable enough

Directly focuses on the minimum level of acceptability required.

Fairly adequate

Implies a level of acceptability that is just above average, placing more focus on the adequacy than the degree of acceptance.

Kind of acceptable

Informal way to express that something is acceptable with some reservations.

Reasonably satisfactory

Emphasizes contentment and satisfaction with something, implying that it meets the required expectations to a moderate extent.

Sufficiently good

Highlights that something meets the minimum requirements of goodness or quality.

Somewhat satisfactory

Indicates that satisfaction is not complete but present to some extent.

Tolerably decent

Suggests that something is just good enough to be tolerated, without being exceptional.

Decently adequate

Implies a balanced combination of decency and adequacy, suggesting a satisfactory but not outstanding level.

Moderately agreeable

Indicates a level of agreement that is neither strong nor weak, but somewhere in the middle.

Passably suitable

Emphasizes that something barely passes as suitable.

FAQs

What does "rather acceptable" mean?

The phrase "rather acceptable" indicates that something is moderately or fairly acceptable. It suggests a level of acceptance that is above minimally acceptable but not fully ideal.

How can I use "rather acceptable" in a sentence?

You can use "rather acceptable" to describe a solution, outcome, or compromise that meets certain criteria without being exceptional. For example: "The proposed budget was "rather acceptable", given the limited resources."

What are some alternatives to "rather acceptable"?

Alternatives to "rather acceptable" include "fairly adequate", "reasonably satisfactory", or "sufficiently good". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "rather acceptable" formal or informal?

"Rather acceptable" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more common in formal writing and speech. In more casual settings, phrases like "acceptable enough" or "kind of acceptable" might be more appropriate.