relatively unsuccessful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relatively unsuccessful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has not achieved a high level of success compared to other things or expectations. Example: "The marketing campaign was relatively unsuccessful, failing to meet its target audience engagement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Dispassionately, he culled the unserious and the relatively unsuccessful.

The New Yorker

This talented writer, moldering away as a relatively unsuccessful actor!

The New York Times - Magazine

But this has proved to be a slow and relatively unsuccessful investigative method.

The New York Times

Labelling one (relatively unsuccessful) portion of the economy as special is a category mistake.

The Economist

"How Marvin Eats His Breakfast," one of those numbers, is from "In Trousers," an early, relatively unsuccessful Finn show.

The New York Times

We have continued to attempt to retrieve information from that additional 32 seconds and have so far been relatively unsuccessful.

The New York Times

Judge Willis Hunt of Federal District Court said prosecutors had been "relatively unsuccessful" in tying Mr. Kaplan to organized crime.

The New York Times

"Companies like Amazon and Yahoo have been relatively unsuccessful at eroding eBay's market share," Mr. Foreman said.

The New York Times

Firstly, the attacks were relatively unsuccessful so, thankfully, there is not the added poignancy of death or injury.

The Guardian - Opinion

While relatively unsuccessful on home ground, the film found its audience abroad and became a cult favourite on video and later DVD.

The Guardian - Film

Microsoft recently introduced a new version of its relatively unsuccessful Windows CE operating system, called Pocket PC, to gain ground against Palm.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and choose the level of formality appropriately. While acceptable in most contexts, more formal writing might benefit from stronger, more precise wording.

Common error

Avoid using "relatively unsuccessful" as a vague qualifier. Always provide context or specific details to illustrate the extent of the lack of success. For example, instead of saying "The project was relatively unsuccessful", specify metrics such as "The project was relatively unsuccessful, achieving only 60% of its target revenue".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relatively unsuccessful" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing a noun by indicating a degree of failure or lack of success in relation to a specific standard or expectation. Ludwig AI indicates this is a grammatically correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

31%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "relatively unsuccessful" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that serves to describe something that has not achieved a desired level of success, especially when compared to specific expectations or benchmarks. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is important to provide context when using this phrase to ensure clarity and precision, avoiding vague applications. While suitable for a range of contexts, from news reporting to scientific discourse, writers should consider whether stronger, more specific language would improve the communication, particularly in formal settings. Alternative phrases such as "somewhat unsuccessful" or "largely ineffective" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat unsuccessful

Replaces "relatively" with "somewhat", indicating a slight degree of failure.

moderately unsuccessful

Replaces "relatively" with "moderately", suggesting a medium degree of failure.

partially unsuccessful

Indicates that only a part of the effort or goal was not successful.

not entirely successful

Emphasizes that there was some success, but it was incomplete.

less than successful

A more general way of saying something didn't achieve its goals.

largely ineffective

Focuses on the ineffectiveness of the effort rather than the lack of success.

not particularly fruitful

Highlights the lack of positive results or outcomes.

something of a failure

A more emphatic way of describing a lack of success.

met with limited success

Indicates that the effort achieved some success, but not to the extent desired.

fell short of expectations

Focuses on the discrepancy between the outcome and what was anticipated.

FAQs

How can I use "relatively unsuccessful" in a sentence?

You can use "relatively unsuccessful" to describe something that didn't achieve the expected level of success compared to something else or initial goals. For example, "The marketing campaign was "relatively unsuccessful", failing to meet its target audience engagement."

What are some alternatives to "relatively unsuccessful"?

Alternatives include "somewhat unsuccessful", "moderately unsuccessful", or "largely ineffective", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "relatively unsuccessful" in formal writing?

Yes, "relatively unsuccessful" is acceptable in formal writing, but ensure the context provides a clear comparison. More precise language might be preferable depending on the specific tone and audience. Consider alternatives like "fell short of expectations" or "met with limited success".

What does "relatively unsuccessful" mean?

It means something has experienced a lower degree of success than anticipated or compared to a specific benchmark. The term implies that there was some effort or intention toward success, but the outcome did not fully meet those expectations.