very ordinary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "very ordinary" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is not extraordinary, special, or unusual. Example: "The restaurant's decor was very ordinary, with plain white walls and simple wooden tables."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Very ordinary.

The Guardian - Books

It is very ordinary.

The New York Times - Magazine

Life became very ordinary.

The New York Times

"My life is very ordinary.

Independent

Very, very ordinary.

The Guardian - Film

Physically we are very ordinary.

Stanford University

Very ordinary squad at the moment.

Independent

Tuesday, something very ordinary happened.

The New York Times - Arts

"They were very ordinary products.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It was all very ordinary," McCann said.

The Washington Post

Lester is a very ordinary boy".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very ordinary" when you want to emphasize the lack of anything special or remarkable about something. It's effective for downplaying expectations or highlighting the mundane aspects of a situation.

Common error

Avoid using "very ordinary" excessively when describing yourself or your work if it doesn't align with the context. It can come across as insincere or diminish genuine achievements. Instead, focus on specific qualities or aspects without undermining their value.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very ordinary" functions as an adjectival phrase used to modify a noun, indicating a lack of distinction or special qualities. As supported by Ludwig, it emphasizes that something is commonplace or unremarkable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Science

10%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "very ordinary" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adjectival phrase that emphasizes the lack of exceptional qualities or distinctiveness. Ludwig's AI validates this, noting its common usage. It is most prevalent in news and media, followed by academia, and serves to convey normalcy or to downplay expectations. While versatile, it should be used judiciously to avoid insincerity or undermining genuine achievements. Alternatives such as "quite typical" or "entirely unremarkable" can be used for slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entirely unremarkable

Focuses on the absence of noteworthy qualities.

completely commonplace

Highlights the lack of uniqueness or distinction.

nothing special

A straightforward way of indicating a lack of exceptional attributes.

quite typical

Emphasizes conformity to a standard or expected pattern.

fairly typical

Indicates a common occurrence or characteristic.

perfectly normal

Stresses alignment with established norms or expectations.

run-of-the-mill

Implies that something is standard and widely available.

standard fare

Suggests something is customary or routinely encountered.

utterly pedestrian

Conveys a sense of dullness or lack of imagination.

plain vanilla

An idiom suggesting a lack of embellishment or special features.

FAQs

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

You can use "very ordinary" to describe something that lacks uniqueness or is commonplace. For example, "The restaurant had a "very ordinary decor", nothing stood out".

What phrases are similar to "very ordinary"?

Alternatives include "quite typical", "completely commonplace", or "entirely unremarkable", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "very ordinary"?

Yes, "very ordinary" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to describe something that is not special or exceptional.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "very ordinary"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize the lack of distinctiveness or exceptional qualities in something, such as "The day was "fairly typical", with no unexpected events".