was good enough

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was good enough" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something met a certain standard or requirement, but perhaps not exceeding expectations. Example: "The performance was good enough to earn her a passing grade, even if it wasn't her best work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This was good enough theater.

The New York Times

Carcillo's goal was good enough.

The New York Times - Sports

Mediocrity was good enough.

The New Yorker

But by then good was good enough.

The New York Times

That was good enough for Ball.

The New York Times - Sports

Nothing was good enough for her.

The New York Times - Books

"I think that was good enough.

The New York Times - Sports

But that was good enough.

The New York Times

The selection was good enough.

The Guardian - Sport

Good enough was good enough".

The New York Times

Less bad was good enough.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was good enough" when you want to convey that something met the minimum requirements or expectations, without necessarily being outstanding. It's useful in situations where perfection is not needed, and adequacy is sufficient.

Common error

While "was good enough" is acceptable, overuse in formal contexts can sound underwhelming. Opt for stronger, more precise alternatives like "was sufficient", "was adequate", or "met the criteria" /s/was+sufficient, /s/was+adequate, /s/met+the+criteria to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was good enough" functions as a predicative adjective phrase, modifying the subject and indicating a level of sufficiency or acceptability. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

15%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was good enough" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something met the required standard or level. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and frequent occurrence across various sources, particularly in news and media. While acceptable, remember to consider the context and choose more formal alternatives like "was sufficient" or "was adequate" when necessary. Be mindful of overuse, especially in professional settings, to avoid sounding dismissive or lacking enthusiasm.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was sufficient

Replaces "good enough" with a synonym indicating adequacy.

was adequate

Similar to "sufficient", emphasizing that the requirement was met.

was satisfactory

Focuses on meeting expectations or standards.

was acceptable

Indicates that something was permissible or met a minimum requirement.

met the requirements

More explicit about fulfilling specific needs or criteria.

passed the test

Implies a formal evaluation or assessment was successfully completed.

was up to par

Suggests a certain level of quality was achieved, especially in comparison to a standard.

was all that was needed

Emphasizes that no more was necessary, highlighting efficiency or simplicity.

served its purpose

Highlights the functionality and usefulness of something.

did the trick

Informal way of saying something effectively achieved its goal.

FAQs

What does "was good enough" mean?

The phrase "was good enough" means that something met a certain standard or requirement, although it may not have exceeded expectations. It implies adequacy rather than excellence.

How to use "was good enough" in a sentence?

You can use "was good enough" to describe something that satisfied a need or requirement. For example, "The presentation "was good enough" to earn a passing grade".

What can I say instead of "was good enough"?

You can use alternatives like "was sufficient", "was adequate", or "was satisfactory" depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "was good enough" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "was good enough" might sound too informal or underwhelming in some formal contexts. Consider using more precise and professional alternatives.