reasonably acceptable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reasonably acceptable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is not perfect, but is still satisfactory. For example: After some negotiation, we were able to come to a reasonably acceptable solution.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

By ensuring that our moral or political principles are justifiable or reasonably acceptable to all those to whom the principles apply, public reason appears to ensure that each of us is, in some important sense, governed only by principles that we can rationally give to ourselves.

SEP

Public reason instead requires that our moral or political principles be justifiable to, or reasonably acceptable to, all those persons to whom the principles are meant to apply.

SEP

At that time (late 60's), the "New New" Quad was a reasonably acceptable address.

Princeton University

The transport and kinetic reaction modules in the developed model were separately verified, and the results were reasonably acceptable.

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

Furthermore, the validity of the representative Pareto solutions is confirmed by finite-element analysis (FEA) with a reasonably acceptable accuracy.

Physica C: Superconductivity and its Applications

The two sets of values (Bzm and Bze) are well correlated, with deviations which are reasonably acceptable.

Measurement

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Overall, the Chinese EIA detection tool showed an acceptable internal consistency and a reasonably satisfactory test-retest reliability.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

"I had this terrifying precedent set by my very happily married parents: both working, both raising children, sacrifices made on both sides, yet they managed to produce two fulfilled, well-educated, one hopes reasonably socially acceptable children.

The Guardian - Film

Rather, consent is based mostly on the end user's level of trust and assumptions that surely some informed lawyers have made sure the details are reasonably fair and acceptable.

University of California, Berkeley

It is shown that with the proposed modification of the drag force correlation, the experimentally measured bed expansion characteristics of industrial-scale bubbling fluidized beds can be reasonably predicted at acceptable computational cost.

Chemical Engineering Science

Furthermore, although intermediate-term (ie, 5 10 years) prosthetic survivorship of a variety of distal femoral implants is reasonably predictable and acceptable [ 6, 33, 41, 45], tibial endoprosthetic reconstruction is more challenging principally because of the biomechanical demands placed on tibial stems.

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reasonably acceptable" to convey a pragmatic assessment, indicating that a condition or solution doesn't need to be perfect, but it should meet essential requirements or standards.

Common error

Avoid using "reasonably acceptable" when a stronger endorsement is warranted. If something is truly excellent or ideal, opt for more affirmative language to reflect its high quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reasonably acceptable" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase, typically used to qualify a noun. It indicates that something meets a certain threshold of approval or suitability, even if it is not perfect. According to Ludwig, it is commonly used to describe something that is not perfect, but is still satisfactory.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

10%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reasonably acceptable" is a common and versatile adjective phrase that indicates something meets a necessary standard or level of approval, even if it's not perfect. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's often used to describe solutions or conditions that involve compromise. Its frequent use in scientific, news, and formal contexts suggests a need for precise and objective language. When using this phrase, it's important to consider whether a stronger endorsement is appropriate and to avoid overstating the level of acceptance. Alternatives like "satisfactorily acceptable" or "sufficiently acceptable" can be considered depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey. "Reasonably acceptable" provides a balanced way to express that something, while not ideal, is still good enough for a particular purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

satisfactorily acceptable

Emphasizes meeting a minimum level of satisfaction; indicates sufficient but not necessarily ideal acceptance.

reasonably satisfactory

Emphasizes that the level of satisfaction is adequate and justifiable.

rationally acceptable

Highlights that the acceptance is based on logical reasoning and sound judgment.

sufficiently acceptable

Focuses on the adequacy of acceptance, suggesting just enough to meet the requirements.

pretty acceptable

Informal way to denote that something is fairly acceptable, although not enthusiastically so.

moderately acceptable

Indicates a middle ground in terms of acceptance, not extremely but adequately acceptable.

realistically acceptable

Acceptance is practical and considers real-world constraints and possibilities.

reasonably tolerable

Highlights that something is acceptable because it can be endured or put up with.

comparatively acceptable

Acceptance is determined by comparing against other options, implying relative merit.

relatively acceptable

Acceptance is viewed in relation to other factors or criteria, indicating contextual acceptance.

FAQs

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

You can use "reasonably acceptable" to describe a solution, outcome, or condition that meets the necessary criteria without being outstanding. For example: "After negotiations, both parties reached a "reasonably acceptable agreement"".

What are some alternatives to "reasonably acceptable"?

Alternatives include "satisfactorily acceptable", "sufficiently acceptable", or "adequately acceptable". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "reasonably acceptable"?

It's appropriate when you want to express that something is good enough for a specific purpose, even if it's not ideal. This phrase acknowledges that compromises or trade-offs may have been made.

What is the difference between "reasonably acceptable" and "completely acceptable"?

"Reasonably acceptable" implies a degree of compromise or imperfection, while "completely acceptable" suggests that something meets all requirements without any reservations. Use "completely acceptable" when there are no significant drawbacks.