somewhat attractive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat attractive" is a valid and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that doesn't meet full criteria for attractiveness, but still has some attractive qualities. For example, "The old painting was somewhat attractive, but had some clearly visible wear and tear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Nonetheless, with overtones of apples, honey and olives, it is somewhat attractive.

The New York Times

"I can't help finding his primate hulk, his leonine brow and serpentine cleverness somewhat attractive," she confesses, creepily.

Independent

As more parents see cuts to their generous employer health benefits or lose them entirely, some student health plans, even ones that aren't particularly robust, are starting to look at least somewhat attractive.

The New York Times - Health

While these jobs don't necessarily look promising for employers looking to hire long term, they've been somewhat attractive to the younger workers.

Forbes

There isn't a single thing to set this netbook apart from the rest of the crowd besides the somewhat attractive color scheme and the Gateway branding.

TechCrunch

"It's upped its own hardware specs while reducing the price, which is clearly an attempt to keep it somewhat attractive in the face of that new competition from Google and Asus".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Fairly attractive.

TechCrunch

In fact, fixed income on a valuation basis is still somewhat more attractive than stocks.

The New York Times

Certainly from a manufacturer point of view, it makes Android somewhat less attractive, because of the risk of infringement.

MIT Technology Review

Meanwhile, Atlanta also has some skilled workers, but not as many as Boston, and so Atlanta is somewhat less attractive.

The Economist

AT&T's consumer unit is somewhat less attractive than WorldCom's consumer and wholesale operation, not least because the AT&T unit is already shrinking.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something as "somewhat attractive", be specific about which aspects are appealing. This adds clarity and depth to your description.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat attractive" when the subject is clearly very attractive. This diminishes the impact of your language and can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat attractive" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a moderate degree of attractiveness. Ludwig examples show it's used across various contexts to describe items, people, or concepts that possess some appealing qualities without being overwhelmingly so.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "somewhat attractive" is a versatile and commonly used adjectival phrase that indicates a moderate degree of appeal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While the phrase conveys a nuanced assessment, it is important to consider the register of your audience and the specific details to add clarity. To be even more effective, ensure you are not overstating the level of appeal when using this phrase. Consider synonyms if the writing calls for increased formality or informality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderately appealing

Replaces "attractive" with "appealing" and "somewhat" with "moderately", keeping the meaning of partial attractiveness.

slightly appealing

Swaps "somewhat" with "slightly", emphasizing the minor degree of attractiveness.

reasonably good-looking

Replaces "attractive" with "good-looking", providing a more casual synonym while keeping "reasonably" to indicate a moderate level.

passably beautiful

Employs "passably" to convey a borderline level of beauty.

fairly pleasant to look at

Substitutes "attractive" with "pleasant to look at", adding a descriptive element and "fairly" for moderation.

kind of cute

Uses "cute" to replace "attractive", which lowers the formality; also, "kind of" adds a more colloquial feel.

not entirely unappealing

Uses a double negative to express a similar sentiment, conveying a sense of attractiveness through negation.

mildly alluring

Replaces "attractive" with "alluring" and "somewhat" with "mildly", retaining the overall sense of limited appeal.

not particularly ugly

Expresses attractiveness by negating ugliness, suggesting it's not unattractive but not markedly beautiful either.

possessing some charm

Shifts the focus to charm instead of direct attractiveness, broadening the scope of appeal while maintaining a moderate level.

FAQs

How can I use "somewhat attractive" in a sentence?

You can use "somewhat attractive" to describe something that has some appealing qualities, but isn't overwhelmingly beautiful or handsome. For example, "The design was "somewhat attractive", but lacked originality."

What's a more formal way to say "somewhat attractive"?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives like "moderately appealing" or "slightly alluring". These options maintain a sense of partial attractiveness but sound more sophisticated.

What are some synonyms for "somewhat attractive"?

Some synonyms for "somewhat attractive" include "reasonably good-looking", "fairly pleasant to look at", and "mildly alluring", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "somewhat attractive"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. "Somewhat" is an adverb that modifies the adjective "attractive", indicating a degree or extent of attractiveness.