was friendly enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was friendly enough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's demeanor or attitude, indicating that they were sufficiently friendly, though perhaps not overly so. Example: "Although he didn't go out of his way to be warm, he was friendly enough to make me feel welcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Her speech was friendly enough, and briefly nodded to shared priorities like liberalisation and economic competitiveness.

The Economist

The students and the professors seemed less than satisfied, but the exchange was friendly enough.

The New Yorker

Neighbors said he was friendly enough and often skateboarded outside his house.

The New York Times

My place in Durham was friendly enough, but child-trampled, crowded, cold in the winter.

The New Yorker

Auden was friendly enough, even encouraging, but Paley went away feeling embarrassed.

The Guardian - Books

The atmosphere was friendly enough, helped by the hundreds of shrieking day campers populating the upper deck.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

The atmosphere is friendly enough.

The New York Times - Travel

"We're friendly enough to squeeze," Mr. Bilbao said.

The New York Times

Officer Davies and his colleague were friendly enough.

The Guardian - Opinion

The first two figures encountered are friendly enough; they're almost elfish.

The New York Times

The staff is friendly enough and fairly well acquainted with the large wine list.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was friendly enough" to indicate a moderate level of friendliness, suggesting politeness and a welcoming attitude without being overly enthusiastic or intimate.

Common error

Avoid using "was friendly enough" when describing someone who went above and beyond in their friendliness; opt for stronger terms like "was exceptionally kind" or "was remarkably welcoming" to accurately convey their behavior.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was friendly enough" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating a sufficient level of friendliness. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently found in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was friendly enough" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe a moderate level of friendliness. As Ludwig AI's analysis and examples demonstrate, it's suitable for conveying a sense of politeness and approachability without implying excessive warmth. While it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, its neutral register makes it versatile for various situations. Consider alternatives like "was sufficiently friendly" or "was adequately friendly" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was sufficiently friendly

Replaces "enough" with "sufficiently", emphasizing adequacy.

was adequately friendly

Uses "adequately" instead of "enough", suggesting a satisfactory level of friendliness.

was amiable to some extent

Uses "amiable" to denote friendliness and adds "to some extent" to indicate a limited degree.

showed a degree of friendliness

Focuses on the demonstration of friendliness, rather than a state of being.

was reasonably approachable

Shifts the focus to approachability, implying a level of friendliness that makes interaction comfortable.

was cordial to a degree

Replaces "friendly" with "cordial", suggesting politeness and warmth, modified by "to a degree".

maintained a friendly demeanor

Focuses on the outward appearance of friendliness rather than genuine feeling.

exhibited some affability

Uses "affability", a more formal term for friendliness, indicating a polite and gracious manner.

was not unfriendly

Expresses the sentiment indirectly by stating the absence of unfriendliness.

managed to be friendly

Suggests that being friendly required some effort or was not entirely natural.

FAQs

How can I use "was friendly enough" in a sentence?

You can use "was friendly enough" to describe someone's behavior as moderately friendly, such as, "Although the clerk seemed busy, she "was friendly enough" to answer my questions".

What is a good alternative to "was friendly enough"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "was sufficiently friendly", "was adequately friendly", or "showed a degree of friendliness".

Is it correct to say "was friendly enough", or should I use a different phrase?

Saying "was friendly enough" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express a moderate level of friendliness. It's a perfectly acceptable phrase in many contexts.

What does "was friendly enough" imply about a person's behavior?

"Was friendly enough" implies the person met a basic expectation of friendliness without necessarily exceeding it. They were polite and approachable, but not excessively warm or outgoing.