that sounds decent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that sounds decent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express approval or agreement with a suggestion, idea, or plan that seems satisfactory or acceptable. Example: "If we meet at 3 PM instead of 2 PM, that sounds decent to me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"I just go with something that sounds decent.

The Guardian - Music

Weigh the investment of splurging $10-$10-$150e for something that sounds decent.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Imagine meeting some fellow adolescents and deciding that your rudimentary instrumental work sounds decent together, only to find yourself traveling the world as part of a unit, forced to create more songs under more pressure while also sitting at the top of a multimillion-dollar corporation.

The New York Times - Books

Yushaimi Yahya of The Malay Mail, who was critical of the album as a whole, pointed out that Simpson sounded "decent" on the track.

Wikipedia

This is technically a business notebook so I'm guessing that not a lot of emphasis was put on the sound portion, but it sounds decent for standard music and videos.

TechCrunch

"Sounds decent.

Vice

This sounds decent, but, as Josh May in Holyrood magazine has pointed out, it actually amounts to a cut in the last government's plans.

Vice

That may sound decent, but when you consider Georgios Samaras scored a goal every three games in that division, it's less of an accolade.

Vice

That number may sound decent, but in order to establish an emotional connection, eye contact must be made during 60 to 70percentt of the communication.

Huffington Post

Love Spreads from Second Coming sounded decent, their new song All for One serviceable.

The Guardian - Music

We prefer lobster simply steamed, and although we would ordinarily avoid fancy preparations here, the lobstermania sounded decent, and it was.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that sounds decent" when you want to express mild approval or agreement without strong enthusiasm. It's suitable for situations where something is acceptable but not necessarily exceptional.

Common error

Avoid using "that sounds decent" in highly formal or professional contexts where a more sophisticated or enthusiastic expression of agreement is expected. Alternatives like "that sounds satisfactory" or "that aligns with our objectives" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that sounds decent" functions as an interjection or response expressing mild agreement or acceptance. It indicates that a suggestion, idea, or plan is considered satisfactory without necessarily being exceptional. Ludwig examples show it in varied scenarios, from music production to scheduling arrangements.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that sounds decent" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to convey mild agreement or acceptance. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans across various contexts, most notably in News & Media. The phrase sits comfortably in neutral to informal registers, signaling satisfactory approval without strong enthusiasm. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "that sounds reasonable" or "that seems acceptable". While versatile, avoid overuse in strictly formal contexts to maintain an appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that seems fine

Substitutes 'sounds decent' with 'seems fine', which is more casual and expresses simple agreement.

that sounds good

Replaces 'decent' with 'good', indicating a more positive and enthusiastic agreement.

that sounds reasonable

Replaces 'decent' with 'reasonable', indicating logical sense and fairness.

that seems acceptable

Changes the verb to 'seems', implying a judgment based on appearance or initial impression.

that works for me

Focuses on personal suitability, indicating that the suggestion is acceptable to the speaker.

that seems adequate

Uses 'adequate' instead of 'decent', implying just enough to meet the need.

that appears satisfactory

Uses 'appears' and 'satisfactory', which is more formal and suggests meeting a certain requirement.

that's an acceptable compromise

Specifically frames the suggestion as a compromise, implying a negotiation.

that looks promising

Shifts from auditory ('sounds') to visual ('looks'), suggesting optimism based on appearance.

that checks out

Employs a more informal and colloquial expression, indicating verification or agreement.

FAQs

What does "that sounds decent" mean?

The phrase "that sounds decent" expresses mild approval or agreement, indicating that something is acceptable or satisfactory but not necessarily outstanding or exceptional.

What can I say instead of "that sounds decent"?

You can use alternatives like "that seems fine", "that sounds good", or "that sounds reasonable" depending on the context.

Is "that sounds decent" formal or informal?

The phrase "that sounds decent" is generally considered to be informal. It is best used in casual conversation or less formal settings.

How can I use "that sounds decent" in a sentence?

You might say, "Meeting at 3 PM instead of 2 PM? That sounds decent to me." It indicates the proposed time is acceptable.