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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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that pretty normal

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that pretty normal" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be "that's pretty normal" to convey the intended meaning. Example: "When I told her about my experience, she said that's pretty normal for someone in my situation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Or is that pretty normal and totally fine?

News & Media

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Kids who are implanted at 1 by age 3 and 4 have language that is pretty normal," said Ann Geers, a psychologist who has studied the effectiveness of cochlear implants.

His response was, " 'Yeah, he's 14 — that's pretty normal.' " He added: "Just because we can dress up a 14-year-old like Andy Roddick, he's still not as old as Andy Roddick.

If you answered 8 or more "yes" that's pretty normal.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Amazingly by this point, that seemed pretty normal for this family and even the prosecutor was like okie dokie.

News & Media

Huffington Post

"That's pretty normal, too.

But that's pretty normal for us.

"That's pretty normal," she said.

News & Media

The New Yorker

That is pretty normal as well.

News & Media

The Guardian

"That's pretty normal, every couple of weeks we do it.

News & Media

The New York Times

That's pretty normal with Leicester and I was glad to be away indoors with the backs.

Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In informal contexts, consider if the slight informality of omitting the "is" is acceptable, but be aware it's technically incorrect.

Common error

Avoid omitting the verb "is" when using the phrase. Saying "that pretty normal" is grammatically incorrect and sounds unnatural to native English speakers. Always include the verb to ensure clarity and correctness.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

79%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that pretty normal" functions as a subjective assessment or observation. However, it is grammatically incomplete. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase lacks the necessary verb, which affects its correctness. The example shows that it is used in contexts where someone is expressing if something is common or expected.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "that pretty normal" appears in some informal contexts, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "that's pretty normal" or "that is pretty normal". As Ludwig AI points out, the absence of the verb "is" makes the phrase incomplete. Despite its occasional use in media, it's advisable to use the grammatically correct alternatives in both formal and informal writing. Using phrases like "that's fairly normal" or "that's quite normal" will ensure clarity and correctness while conveying a similar meaning.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "that pretty normal"?

The grammatically correct way to say it is "that's pretty normal" or "that is pretty normal". The first option uses a contraction.

Is it acceptable to say "that pretty normal" in casual conversation?

While understandable, "that pretty normal" is grammatically incorrect. For casual conversation, it might be acceptable to some, but it's best to use "that's pretty normal" for clarity and correctness.

What are some alternatives to saying "that's pretty normal"?

You can use alternatives like "that's fairly normal", "that's quite normal", or "that seems pretty normal" depending on the context.

Why is "that pretty normal" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "that pretty normal" is missing the verb "is" or the contraction "'s", which is necessary to link the subject "that" with the predicate adjective phrase. Adding the verb creates a complete and grammatically sound sentence.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: