they were satisfactory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were satisfactory" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that met expectations or standards in a particular context. Example: "The results of the survey indicated that the services provided by the company were satisfactory to the customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The results were compared with those obtained from previously published methods and they were satisfactory.

Chemistry Central Journal

The model goodness-of-fit was assessed using Hosmer Lemeshow test and the results showed that they were satisfactory (p = 0.1936 for model1 and p = 0.4711 for model 2) [ 43].

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Their appearance and weathering properties are inferior to those of fired masonry, but they are satisfactory for foundation walls.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But they are satisfactory enough for a newspaper intended for people who want to give their minds seriously, though with a sense of tolerance and humour, to the day's affairs".

The Guardian - Opinion

First, equilibrium values are found from the breakthrough curves and they are satisfactory fitted to the Freundlich isotherm.

Carbon

I was told the school's standard policy was to place new teachers on probation for two months, then if their teaching evaluations were satisfactory, they would be hired for a full-fledged position.

Huffington Post

Indeed, a health worker would jeopardise his professional esteem if he signalled that certain services were satisfactory if they in fact were not.

BMC Psychiatry

"The results were satisfactory".

The New York Times

"His conditions were satisfactory," the spokesman said.

The Guardian

Residual analyses were satisfactory.

EJNMMI Physics

Clinical results were satisfactory.

Clinical interventions in aging

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they were satisfactory", ensure the context clearly defines what 'they' refers to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the statement's impact.

Common error

While grammatically correct, relying heavily on "they were satisfactory" can make your writing sound monotonous. Vary your language by using stronger synonyms like "they excelled" or "they exceeded expectations" to add nuance and impact to your reports.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were satisfactory" primarily functions as a subjective complement, describing the state or condition of a previously mentioned subject. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were satisfactory" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey that something met expectations or standards. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While the phrase is versatile, it’s more prevalent in scientific and news contexts. To enrich your writing, consider using alternatives like "they sufficed" or "they met expectations". Be aware of potential overuse, and ensure clarity by explicitly referencing what "they" refers to.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they sufficed

Replaces "were satisfactory" with a more concise term indicating adequacy.

they met expectations

Emphasizes that the results aligned with what was anticipated.

they proved adequate

Indicates that something was good enough for a specific purpose.

they were up to par

Suggests that something reached the required standard.

they measured up

Highlights that something compared well against a benchmark.

they passed muster

Implies something was approved after being examined.

they held up well

Suggests resilience and good performance under scrutiny.

they were acceptable

Indicates something barely meets the minimum requirements.

they fulfilled the requirements

Specifies that necessary conditions were met.

they were in good enough shape

Indicates something was in an adequate condition.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "they were satisfactory"?

You can use alternatives like "they sufficed", "they met expectations", or "they proved adequate" depending on the context.

How to use "they were satisfactory" in a sentence?

Use "they were satisfactory" to describe something that met the requirements or expectations. For example: "The test results showed that their performance levels were satisfactory."

When is it appropriate to use "they were satisfactory"?

It's appropriate to use "they were satisfactory" when you want to convey that something met a specific standard or fulfilled a requirement, without necessarily exceeding it. It implies a level of adequacy rather than excellence.

What's the difference between "they were satisfactory" and "they were excellent"?

"They were satisfactory" implies that something met the basic requirements or expectations, while "they were excellent" suggests that something far surpassed those requirements and was of very high quality.