reasonably decent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reasonably decent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is fairly good or acceptable, but not exceptional. Example: "The restaurant was reasonably decent, offering a good selection of dishes at affordable prices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

He seems like a reasonably decent fellow, too.

The New York Times

"Most of these people have reasonably decent severance packages".

The New York Times

And that means allowing the Palestinians not only a state but one that is reasonably decent.

The Economist

You live a reasonably decent life, roughly 2000 B.C. to this moment.

The Washington Post

The network runs at about 5ms for both forward and backward pass on my reasonably decent Ubuntu+Chrome machine.

Stanford University

You pollyanna boys want to go around thinking the business world is honorable and reasonably decent.... Listen to me.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

His performance has been pretty decent in the last two caucus states, and both North Dakota and Alaska are reasonably favorable to him.

The New York Times

("Natan is a reasonably good club player, and in a simultaneous game that can be dangerous," Kasparov told me. "But he should be pretty decent. He's the product of Soviet chess schools").

The New Yorker

Pretty decent.

Forbes

Reasonably enough.

The Guardian

Looking for a decent, reasonably priced restaurant?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reasonably decent" to convey a sense of adequacy without implying excellence. It's perfect when you want to acknowledge something is good enough, but not outstanding.

Common error

Avoid using "reasonably decent" when describing something truly exceptional. This phrase suggests a moderate level of quality, so reserve it for situations where that's accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reasonably decent" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun. It describes the quality of something as being average or slightly above average, indicating it meets a certain standard without being exceptional. Ludwig examples confirm its use in describing various nouns like "life", "shot", and "performance".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reasonably decent" is a common and grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe something as being of acceptable, but not exceptional, quality. As Ludwig AI confirms, it fits seamlessly into diverse contexts, primarily within News & Media. The term functions to express a moderate level of approval or satisfaction, suitable for neutral registers. While alternatives such as "fairly acceptable" and "moderately good" exist, "reasonably decent" maintains a versatile and reliable presence in both written and spoken English, making it a useful tool for conveying measured assessments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly acceptable

Replaces "reasonably decent" with an emphasis on acceptability over quality.

moderately good

Indicates a level of goodness that is average or slightly above average.

passably adequate

Highlights just enough quality to be acceptable.

somewhat satisfactory

Emphasizes a level of satisfaction that is not outstanding.

tolerably fine

Suggests an acceptance of something that is just good enough.

adequately suitable

Focuses on the suitability of something being at an acceptable level.

comfortably sufficient

Implies that something is enough to meet requirements without excelling.

respectably average

Combines being average with a level of respectability.

serviceably good

Focuses on the functionality and goodness for serving a purpose.

acceptably fair

Indicates a level of fairness that meets basic requirements.

FAQs

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

You can use "reasonably decent" to describe something that is fairly good or acceptable, but not exceptional. For example: "The food at the restaurant was "reasonably decent", but nothing to write home about."

What are some alternatives to "reasonably decent"?

Alternatives to "reasonably decent" include "fairly acceptable", "moderately good", or "somewhat satisfactory", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "reasonably decent"?

It's appropriate to use "reasonably decent" when you want to express that something meets a basic standard or is adequate without being particularly impressive or outstanding. It implies a satisfactory but not exceptional quality.

Is "reasonably decent" formal or informal?

"Reasonably decent" is generally considered a neutral phrase suitable for both informal and semi-formal contexts. It's versatile enough for everyday conversation and written communication where a moderate level of quality is being described.