relative success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relative success" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a level of success that is measured in comparison to other successes or in relation to expectations. Example: "While the project did not achieve all its goals, it was considered a relative success compared to previous initiatives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This relative success is fragile indeed.

The Guardian - Opinion

But that only partly explains the military's relative success here.

The New York Times

Yahoo executives, however, hailed the results as a relative success.

The New York Times - Tech

Despite King's relative success, this still feels like punching up.

The Guardian - Arts

That submission's relative success depends on who is judging.

The New York Times

The Yankees had relative success stopping Suzuki this season.

The New York Times - Sports

For years I have applied this model with relative success.

The Guardian

Thanks to the relative success of dollarisation, he remains popular.

The Economist

The U.K.'s relative success begged another question.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Poland is one of Europe's relative success stories.

The New York Times

And the amazing thing is that people are pointing to this as a relative success.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "relative success", clearly define the point of comparison. What are you measuring the success against? This adds clarity and context to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "relative success" when the outcome is clearly a failure. The term implies a degree of positive achievement, even if it's less than ideal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relative success" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject complement or object. It qualifies the noun "success" with the adjective "relative", indicating that the degree of success is being considered in relation to something else. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "relative success" is a valuable phrase for conveying nuanced evaluations. It acknowledges positive outcomes while also recognizing limitations or comparisons. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used across diverse contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. When employing this phrase, ensure you clearly define the basis of comparison to enhance clarity. Avoid overstating the degree of achievement, and remember that alternatives such as "moderate achievement" or "partial victory" may be more appropriate in certain situations. Its register is generally neutral to professional.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderate achievement

Focuses on the level of achievement rather than comparing it.

partial victory

Highlights the incomplete nature of the success.

limited triumph

Emphasizes the constraints or boundaries of the success.

qualified accomplishment

Suggests the accomplishment comes with conditions or reservations.

conditional success

Highlights the dependence of success on certain conditions.

noticeable progress

Focuses on the progress made, implying it falls short of complete success.

significant advance

Highlights advancement while acknowledging it may not be full success.

measurable improvement

Emphasizes the quantifiable improvement achieved, short of total success.

some headway

Indicates progress has been made, but the task is not finished.

certain degree of effectiveness

Highlights the effectiveness achieved to a certain level without being completely successful.

FAQs

How do you use "relative success" in a sentence?

Use "relative success" to describe an outcome that achieved some positive results compared to expectations or other attempts. For example, "The project was a "relative success", exceeding initial projections but falling short of the ultimate goal."

What's a good alternative to "relative success"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "relative success" include "moderate achievement", "partial victory", or "limited triumph".

What does "relative success" imply about the outcome?

"Relative success" indicates that the outcome was better than expected or better than previous attempts, even if it wasn't a complete or unqualified success. It acknowledges both positive and negative aspects.

Is "relative success" the same as "absolute success"?

No, "relative success" is not the same as "absolute success". Absolute success implies a complete and unqualified achievement, while "relative success" suggests a more nuanced outcome that is positive in comparison but not necessarily perfect.