up to snuff

USAGE SUMMARY

"up to snuff" is a correct and usable phrase in written/spoken English.
It is often used to describe someone or something that is satisfactory in quality or up to the desired standard. For example, "This report is up to snuff and ready to be presented."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Is Your Stuff Up to Snuff?

Harvard University

Computerized scans are not up to snuff yet.

The New York Times - Science

Your credit has to be up to snuff as well.

The New York Times

His effort level against Indiana wasn't up to snuff.

The Washington Post

Perhaps her kitchen was not up to snuff?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Recruitment, as they say, is not up to snuff".

The New York Times

Chavez knows that things aren't up to snuff.

The New Yorker

For one thing, the cooked breakfasts weren't up to snuff.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

The waters not quite being up to snuff (and sniff) isn't exactly a surprise.

The Washington Post

But now I finally have hard (digital) evidence of Taylor's not-quite-up-to-snuff feminism.

Huffington Post

Granted, bringing the castle up to snuff requires serious work.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "up to snuff" when you want to convey that something or someone meets the required standards or expectations. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "up to snuff" when describing something that is unpleasant or negative, as the phrase implies a level of acceptability or quality. If you need to indicate something is bad, use a different word or phrase that better reflects the negative quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "up to snuff" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that it meets a certain standard or level of quality. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples where it describes whether something is adequate or acceptable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "up to snuff" is a versatile adjective phrase that conveys that something meets the required standards or expectations. As Ludwig AI confirms with its analysis and examples, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, it is best to reserve for less formal contexts. Remember that alternatives such as "adequate", "satisfactory", and "up to par" can be useful substitutes in more formal settings. By understanding its nuances and appropriate contexts, you can effectively integrate "up to snuff" into your writing and communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

up to par

This alternative uses a metaphor from sports to convey that something is at the expected level.

up to scratch

This alternative is an idiomatic expression similar to "up to par", indicating that something meets the required standard.

passing muster

This alternative uses an idiomatic expression to mean that something has been approved after scrutiny.

adequate

This alternative is a single word that means meeting the required standard.

satisfactory

This alternative implies that something is good enough to meet a particular need or demand.

acceptable

This alternative indicates that something meets a minimum requirement or standard.

sufficient

This alternative highlights that something is enough to fulfill a need or requirement.

good enough

This alternative is a simple and direct way of saying that something meets the minimum requirements.

meeting requirements

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the fulfillment of specific criteria.

of requisite quality

This alternative is a more formal way of expressing that something has the necessary quality.

FAQs

What does it mean for something to be "up to snuff"?

When something is described as "up to snuff", it means it meets the required standards or expectations; it is of acceptable quality.

How can I use "up to snuff" in a sentence?

You can use "up to snuff" to describe various things. For example: "The quality of the work wasn't /s/up+to+snuff", or "Make sure your skills are /s/up+to+snuff before the interview".

What are some alternatives to saying something is "up to snuff"?

Alternatives include "adequate", "satisfactory", or "up to par" depending on the context.

Is "up to snuff" a formal or informal expression?

"Up to snuff" is generally considered an informal expression, but it is widely understood and can be used in many contexts. However, in very formal situations, you might prefer alternatives like "adequate" or "sufficient".