somewhat useful

USAGE SUMMARY

"somewhat useful" is correct and can be used in written English.
Example sentence: The instructions provided were somewhat useful, but I still had trouble figuring out how to use the software.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The intelligence cooperation with the US is extremely useful to us, and somewhat useful to the Americans.

The Guardian

Together, these new disclosures make up a transparency report that's actually somewhat useful for the people who use Twitter.

TechCrunch

Views on WISH Project strategies and GAP materials will be elicited by seeking the level of usefulness using a five-point Likert scale (very useful; somewhat useful; undecided; not really useful; not at all useful).

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Not useful            0%    Somewhat useful         52%    Very useful            48% If you used the videos to replace going to lecture, how many lectures did they replace?

BMC Medical Education

Almost all speech pathologists had used a stroke CPG and had found the guideline "somewhat useful" or "very useful".

BMC Health Services Research

Incorporating a clinical scenario into procedural teaching using simulators was felt to be very useful or somewhat useful by 83 of the participants, (Table 2).

BMC Medical Education

The app seems somewhat useful.

The Guardian - Opinion

There were times when it was somewhat useful.

The New York Times

"They're still procrastinating from something else, but at least it's somewhat useful," says Von Ahn.

The Guardian

For the average driver, that could be somewhat useful for, say, half the year.

MIT Technology Review

Online risk calculators (such as www.cvriskcalculator.com) might be somewhat useful in more objectively calculating the degree of cardiovascular risk.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "somewhat useful", consider specifying what makes it only 'somewhat' useful. Providing context enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity for your reader.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat useful" when the subject is actually very effective or completely ineffective. Be accurate in your assessment to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat useful" primarily functions as a qualifying adjective phrase. It modifies a noun to indicate that something possesses a limited degree of utility or effectiveness, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

39%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "somewhat useful" is a versatile adjective phrase used to express that something has a limited degree of utility. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts, including science, news, and academia. When using this phrase, it's beneficial to provide specific context regarding what makes the subject only "somewhat" useful to enhance clarity. While effective, avoid overstating the usefulness when using the term to maintain accuracy and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderately helpful

Implies a similar level of assistance, but focuses on the act of helping rather than general utility.

partly beneficial

Highlights the positive impact of something, suggesting that only some aspects are advantageous.

marginally effective

Suggests a minimal level of effectiveness, often implying that the impact is barely noticeable.

slightly advantageous

Focuses on the benefit provided, indicating a small but positive advantage.

kind of handy

Informal way of saying something is useful or convenient to a certain extent.

to some extent valuable

Emphasizes the worth or importance of something, but only in a limited capacity.

somewhat practical

Focuses on the feasibility and applicability of something, suggesting it's useful in a real-world setting to a certain degree.

serviceable to a degree

Highlights the ability of something to perform its function, but only up to a certain level.

reasonably applicable

Implies that something can be applied or used in a situation with a fair degree of success.

useable in certain cases

Specifies that something is only helpful or effective under specific conditions.

FAQs

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

You can use "somewhat useful" to describe something that has limited utility or effectiveness, for example: "The tool was "somewhat useful", but it didn't completely solve the problem."

What are some alternatives to "somewhat useful"?

Alternatives include "moderately helpful", "partly beneficial", or "marginally effective", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "somewhat useful" a formal or informal phrase?

"Somewhat useful" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, you might opt for a more precise term.

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

"Somewhat useful" indicates a limited degree of utility, while "very useful" suggests a high degree of effectiveness and benefit. The choice depends on the accuracy of your assessment.