reasonably competent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reasonably competent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who possesses a satisfactory level of skill or ability in a particular area, without being exceptional. Example: "While he may not be the best in the field, he is reasonably competent and can handle most tasks effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Part of the point of public reason, on this view, is to accommodate the diverse forms of reasoning that are bound to exist among any reasonably competent group of reasoners (Gaus 2011, 288 292).

SEP

The fact that public sector managers have rated themselves as at least "reasonably competent but not good" in all of the competencies suggests that they lack confidence in their ability either because they don't possess the requisite management skills or because they more generally lack self-belief.

Human Resources for Health

It is however of concern that despite public sector managers reporting that they were significantly more likely to have attended formal training in health management, they rated themselves significantly lower than private sector managers, and generally as being only "reasonably competent but not good" in all of the competencies.

Human Resources for Health

Take away most of those intangibles -- the je ne sais quoi of "The Returned," if you will -- remake the show with North American actors, give it the pace, tone and look of a reasonably competent basic-cable drama, and you pretty much destroy the reason to watch "The Returned".

Huffington Post

Imagine turning up at the Top Gear auditions with a reasonably competent haircut.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The reasonably competent management of several minor crises reinforced his gravitas.

The Economist

Can any reasonably competent backstop keep his glove and head steady once he knows to try?

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Service was reasonably attentive, fairly competent and earnest; it was not relaxed, easy or smooth, nor, did we feel, suitably horrified or apologetic about the quail.

The New York Times - Travel

Yet he remained self-effacing about his role in shaping the trajectory of the medium: "I think anybody who had been moderately competent, reasonably alert to the vitality of what was actually going on in the medium would have done the same thing I did," he said.

The New Yorker

The new president will then have to concentrate on putting together a government seen as reasonably legitimate and competent.

The Economist

Some ministries, like health, perform reasonably well because competent people were found to run them and the Americans provided technical advice.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "reasonably competent", specify the area in which they possess this level of competence to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "reasonably competent" when a higher level of expertise is evident or required. Using the phrase in such cases can undermine the individual's abilities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reasonably competent" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase, qualifying a noun. It describes a level of proficiency that is adequate but not necessarily exceptional. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

11%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reasonably competent" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe someone or something that meets an acceptable standard of skill or ability. As per Ludwig AI, it’s widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While not implying exceptional skill, it conveys a level of capability that is adequate and satisfactory. When using this phrase, it's important to specify the area of competence to provide context and avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "adequately skilled" or "fairly capable" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly capable

Highlights general capability without implying exceptional talent.

adequately skilled

Focuses on skill level, emphasizing sufficiency.

sufficiently proficient

Emphasizes proficiency to a required degree.

moderately skilled

Indicates a middle ground in skill level, which is adequate.

acceptably qualified

Stresses that the qualifications meet a minimum standard.

suitably experienced

Emphasizes that the experience is fitting for the requirements.

passably adept

Suggests a level of adroitness that is just enough.

serviceably efficient

Highlights efficiency in a way that is useful and effective.

practically versed

Highlights practical knowledge.

conventionally adept

Indicates a traditional approach to expertise.

FAQs

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

You can use "reasonably competent" to describe someone who has an adequate level of skill or ability in a particular area. For example, "He is a "reasonably competent" programmer, able to handle most tasks."

What are some alternatives to "reasonably competent"?

Alternatives include "adequately skilled", "sufficiently proficient", or "fairly capable". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What does it mean to be "reasonably competent"?

Being "reasonably competent" means possessing a level of skill or ability that is adequate or satisfactory for a given task or role, without necessarily being exceptional or outstanding.

Is "reasonably competent" a positive or negative description?

It is generally a neutral to slightly positive description. While it doesn't imply exceptional skill, it suggests that the person is capable and can perform adequately. It's more positive than describing someone as incompetent, but less positive than describing them as highly skilled or expert.