very good

USAGE SUMMARY

"very good" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
You can use it to express appreciation or approval, as a response to something that someone has said or done. For example, you can say "Your essay is very good" if someone has written a particularly impressive essay.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Very good, very good".

The New York Times - Sports

Very good".

The New York Times

Very Good.

Harvard University

I said oooh, very good, very good.

The New York Times

"Very good, very good," said Jackson.

The New York Times

Very interesting, very good.

The New York Times - Sports

"Very good, very hot".

The New York Times - Food

"Very good, very good!" Spruill said, laughing.

Princeton University

Not very good, not very good.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Good" = good/very good.

BMC Health Services Research

Excellent/Very Good/Good.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very good" to express genuine approval or satisfaction. Be mindful of the context and choose synonyms like "excellent" or "outstanding" for stronger emphasis if needed.

Common error

Avoid overusing "very good" in your writing. Vary your vocabulary with more descriptive and nuanced alternatives to maintain reader engagement and prevent your assessment from sounding repetitive or insincere.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "very good" is as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. As supported by Ludwig, the phrase is used to describe something as being of high quality or satisfactory. For example, "a very good player" or "very good advice."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Academia

23%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

7%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "very good" is a common and versatile adjective phrase used to express approval or positive assessment. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage. While grammatically sound, varying your vocabulary with synonyms like "excellent" or "outstanding" can enhance your writing. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Academia, with a neutral to informal register. It's a simple yet effective way to convey a positive evaluation in various contexts. Remember to use it genuinely and avoid overusing it to maintain reader engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excellent

Single word alternative with stronger emphasis.

outstanding

Implies exceptional quality or performance.

first-rate

Indicates top quality or class.

exceptional

Suggests being significantly above average.

splendid

A more formal and somewhat old-fashioned expression of approval.

remarkably good

Highlights the unexpected or surprising nature of the goodness.

genuinely good

Emphasizes the sincerity and authenticity of the positive assessment.

highly satisfactory

A more formal and professional way to express approval.

that's great

Expresses enthusiasm and positive reaction.

quite satisfactory

Indicates that something meets expectations and is pleasing.

FAQs

How can I use "very good" in a sentence?

You can use "very good" to describe something of high quality or express approval, as in "The food was very good" or "That's a very good idea".

What can I say instead of "very good"?

You can use alternatives like "excellent", "outstanding", or "first-rate" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "very good" or "excellent"?

"Excellent" is a stronger expression of approval than "very good". Use "excellent" when you want to convey exceptional quality or performance.

When is it appropriate to use "very good" in formal writing?

"Very good" is acceptable in formal writing, but consider using more sophisticated synonyms like "highly satisfactory" or "remarkably good" for a more professional tone.