to be satisfactory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'to be satisfactory' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to express that something is good enough or acceptable. For example, "His performance on the project was satisfactory."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His career continues to be satisfactory, and business is booming.

The New Yorker

In general, the performance has been found to be satisfactory.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

The elastic modulus of a SHDC appeared to be satisfactory.

Materials & Design

The computational results have been found to be satisfactory.

International Journal of Production Economics

The F82H/316L TIG-weld was found to be satisfactory.

Journal of Nuclear Materials

Disturbance resistance of the system also proved to be satisfactory.

Precision Engineering

The verification among the results seems to be satisfactory.

Journal of Constructional Steel Research

The S-value of 1.3 or less is empirically considered to be satisfactory.

Nature

The legal advice you receive needs only to be "satisfactory", not good, according to the proposals.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Nothing is going to be satisfactory to parents unless they get their kids back," Monaco says.

The New Yorker

In 2005, it was deemed to be satisfactory, but pupil behaviour was identified as a concern.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to be satisfactory" when you want to express that something meets the minimum requirements or expectations without necessarily being outstanding. It's suitable for formal reports, evaluations, and general assessments where a neutral tone is desired.

Common error

Avoid using "to be satisfactory" when you need to convey enthusiasm or strong approval. In such cases, opt for phrases like "to be excellent", "to be outstanding", or "to exceed expectations" to reflect a more positive sentiment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be satisfactory" primarily functions as a predicate adjective, describing the state or quality of a noun. Ludwig shows numerous examples where it indicates that something meets a certain standard or requirement. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase expresses that something is good enough or acceptable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to be satisfactory" is a common expression used to indicate that something meets a certain standard or requirement without necessarily being exceptional. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it appears frequently in scientific and news contexts, as well as academic writing. While it's a versatile phrase, it's crucial to consider the specific context to determine whether a more emphatic or descriptive alternative might be more appropriate. Remember to avoid overusing it in situations that call for stronger endorsements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be adequate

Replaces "satisfactory" with a term that emphasizes meeting a minimum requirement or expectation.

to be sufficient

Similar to "adequate", but suggests that something is enough for a particular purpose.

to be acceptable

Focuses on the permissibility or approval of something, rather than its quality.

to be good enough

An informal way of saying that something meets the required standard, even if it is not exceptional.

to meet expectations

Highlights that something fulfills the anticipated or desired outcomes.

to measure up

Suggests that something reaches a certain standard or level of performance.

to pass muster

An idiomatic way of saying that something has been approved after scrutiny or examination.

to be up to par

Implies that something is at the expected level of quality or performance.

to hit the mark

Indicates that something has achieved the desired result or outcome.

to come up to scratch

Suggests that something meets the required standard, particularly after a previous failure.

FAQs

How can I use "to be satisfactory" in a sentence?

The phrase "to be satisfactory" indicates that something meets a certain standard or requirement. For example, "The test results were found "to be satisfactory"", meaning they were acceptable.

What are some alternatives to "to be satisfactory"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "to be adequate", "to be sufficient", or "to be acceptable".

Is it better to say "to be satisfactory" or "to be excellent"?

The choice depends on the context. "To be satisfactory" implies that something meets the minimum requirements, while "to be excellent" suggests that something is of very high quality and exceeds expectations.

What does it mean when something is described as "to be satisfactory"?

When something is described as "to be satisfactory", it means that it meets the necessary requirements or standards. It is acceptable or good enough, but not necessarily exceptional or outstanding.