somewhat satisfactory

USAGE SUMMARY

"somewhat satisfactory" is correct and usable in written English.
You might use this phrase to describe a situation that is better than expected but not entirely satisfying. For example, "The results of the test were somewhat satisfactory, but we still have a lot of work to do."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The percentage who thought that subway service was "very or somewhat satisfactory" fell to 71percentt last year from 74percentt in 1998.

The New York Times

The theme of a puzzled yet irremediable and somewhat satisfactory isolation continues to preside in "Coming" ("I, whose childhood / Is a forgotten boredom") and in "Reasons for Attendance" and "Dry-Point," both about drawing back from sex.

The New Yorker

If the video you are shooting is the highest quality you will get somewhat satisfactory prints.

TechCrunch

Now, while most of these plot holes have somewhat satisfactory explanations -- Harry was perhaps too young to have understood what death was at the time his mother died, and, let's face it, whatever dangerous effects there are from time travel are obviously not as important as getting to Muggle Studies on time -- nevertheless, one huge plot hole keeps popping up online, and it may trump them all.

Huffington Post

Suicide among younger children and adolescents is a rare event; thus, we chose a period of 12 years to obtain a somewhat satisfactory sample size.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

The simulations were demonstrated in a clear and detailed manner according to 83% of the students, who scored it 4 out of 5. Overall, 48% of the participants stated that the amount of time allotted to practice was not fully satisfactory: 35% stated that it was somewhat satisfactory, 14% that it was slightly satisfactory and 3% that it was not at all satisfactory.

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

These predictions are in reasonably satisfactory agreement with the somewhat discordant experimental rate measurements.

Proceedings of the Combustion Institute

The reliability of the self-report SDQ subscales was somewhat less satisfactory.

Personality and Individual Differences

White and Thompson [ 33] suggest the estimation of (and hence ) should be derived from a pilot dataset, and that the use of baseline data or related data sets (which we have used) is somewhat less satisfactory.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Of the women who completed self-collection, 88.8 % found the process somewhat or very satisfactory.

BMC Women's Health

The companies' economic situation was predominantly rated as either good or, to a somewhat lesser extent, satisfactory, only 7% of respondents regarded it as bad.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "somewhat satisfactory" to convey a nuanced assessment, avoiding overly positive or negative language. This is especially useful when evaluating results, performance, or conditions that do not fully meet expectations but are not entirely disappointing.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat satisfactory" repeatedly in formal reports or academic papers, as it can sound vague. Instead, use more precise language that specifies the aspects that are satisfactory and those that are not.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat satisfactory" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe its quality or condition. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct. For instance, describing a performance as "somewhat satisfactory" implies it met a minimum standard, but there is room for improvement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "somewhat satisfactory" is a grammatically sound adjectival phrase used to express a qualified level of acceptance or fulfillment. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it conveys a more nuanced assessment than either strictly positive or negative terms. This phrase is most commonly found in scientific and news media contexts, offering a neutral tone suitable for a variety of applications. Related phrases include "partially adequate" and "moderately acceptable", which offer similar but subtly different shades of meaning. While the phrase is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts, overuse in highly formal writing should be avoided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partially adequate

Emphasizes the partial fulfillment of requirements or expectations.

moderately acceptable

Highlights a level of acceptance that is neither enthusiastic nor dismissive.

reasonably good

Indicates a level of quality that is above average but not exceptional.

passably decent

Suggests a minimum level of quality that meets basic standards.

fairly sufficient

Conveys that something is adequately enough to meet a particular need.

kind of okay

Informal way of saying something is acceptable. More casual than "somewhat satisfactory".

tolerably well

Emphasizes that something is being done well enough to be tolerated, implying a possible lack of enthusiasm.

slightly pleasing

Focuses on the positive aspect of causing pleasure or enjoyment, but only to a limited extent.

somewhat suitable

Indicates a degree of appropriateness, but not necessarily the ideal or perfect fit.

barely adequate

Highlights the limited extent to which requirements or expectations are met.

FAQs

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

You can use "somewhat satisfactory" to describe a situation that meets a minimum requirement, but isn't ideal. For example, "The test results were "somewhat satisfactory", indicating a need for further improvement."

What are some alternatives to "somewhat satisfactory"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "moderately acceptable", "reasonably good", or "partially adequate". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "somewhat satisfactory" a formal or informal expression?

"Somewhat satisfactory" is generally considered neutral, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal settings, more precise language might be preferred.

What's the difference between "somewhat satisfactory" and "very satisfactory"?

"Somewhat satisfactory" indicates a degree of acceptance or fulfillment that is less than complete, while "very satisfactory" suggests a high level of fulfillment and approval.