was pretty stringent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was pretty stringent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or set of rules that were strict or demanding in nature. Example: "The regulations for the new project were pretty stringent, requiring all team members to adhere to strict deadlines and quality standards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I was pretty stringent about it," Bern said recently in a phone interview.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"The quality filter will be pretty stringent.

The New York Times

"These are pretty stringent requirements," said Sandy Praeger, the Kansas insurance commissioner, who supervised the drafting of the rules.

The New York Times - Health

"There were pretty stringent rules back then," recalls Ms. Fitzgerald, now 50 and a grandmother living in Dallas.

The New York Times

These are pretty stringent requirements – if we tested ourselves against this statement every day, the chances are that some days we would all be suffering sub-par mental health.

The Guardian - Opinion

The company is pretty stringent about what counts as a renewable; unlike some soi-disant renewables suppliers, it won't use unsustainable biomass, and it won't use unseparated waste (on the grounds that burning plastic is not that different from burning fossil fuels, even if it is a waste product and you didn't dig it up just to burn it).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The demands of a specialist chemistry vocabulary are pretty stringent, however, so for chemistry dictation the transcription accuracy varies significantly.

Journal of Cheminformatics

These are pretty stringent criteria, and the method usually doesn't turn up very many stocks with decent liquidity.

Forbes

Of course, his immigration policy is only a tiny fraction of an inch different than most Republicans', seeing as how the criteria he usually lists for his proposed exemption are pretty stringent: lived here 25 years, not broken any other laws than the immigration violation, grandmother, and a member of a local church.

Huffington Post

Sentries of old might have considered the requirement for someone to whisper the word "Methuselah" to get past a checkpoint to be pretty damn stringent, but as soon as "Methuselah" was forgotten or passed on (deliberately or inadvertently), they may as well have abandoned the checkpoint and put up a sign saying: "Come on in".

Independent

I was pretty nonchalant.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "pretty" with synonyms like "quite" or "fairly" to subtly adjust the intensity of the statement.

Common error

While "pretty" is acceptable, overuse can weaken your writing. Vary your language by using stronger adjectives or adverbs to maintain clarity and impact. Instead of "was pretty stringent", try "was remarkably stringent" or "was exceptionally stringent".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was pretty stringent" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating a quality of strictness or rigor. It describes something that imposed or involved tight controls or requirements, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was pretty stringent" is a grammatically sound and commonly used way to express that something was quite strict or rigorous. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and wide usage across news media, scientific publications, and other fields. While more formal alternatives exist, this phrase strikes a balance between conveying the necessary level of strictness and maintaining a more approachable tone. Remember to consider context and audience when selecting this phrase. For a more formal setting, consider replacing "pretty" with stronger alternatives such as "quite" or "very".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was fairly strict

Changes 'pretty stringent' to 'fairly strict', using a different adjective to indicate a similar level of strictness.

was quite demanding

Replaces 'stringent' with 'demanding', focusing on the high requirements or expectations.

imposed strict regulations

Shifts the focus to the act of imposing strict regulations, rather than describing something as stringent.

enforced rigid guidelines

Emphasizes the enforcement of rigid guidelines, highlighting the inflexibility of the rules.

maintained tight control

Focuses on the maintenance of tight control, suggesting strict management or oversight.

had firm requirements

Highlights the firmness of the requirements, indicating a lack of flexibility.

followed rigorous standards

Shifts the focus to adherence to rigorous standards, emphasizing the high level of quality or precision.

established tough rules

Emphasizes the toughness of the rules, suggesting they are difficult to meet or comply with.

implemented severe measures

Highlights the severity of the measures taken, indicating a strong or drastic approach.

necessitated exacting precision

Focuses on the necessity of exacting precision, emphasizing the need for accuracy and attention to detail.

FAQs

What does "was pretty stringent" mean?

The phrase "was pretty stringent" means that something was quite strict, rigorous, or demanding. It indicates a high standard or requirement that needed to be met.

When is it appropriate to use "was pretty stringent"?

It's appropriate to use "was pretty stringent" when describing rules, regulations, requirements, or standards that were notably strict or demanding, but not excessively so. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

What are some alternatives to "was pretty stringent"?

You can use alternatives like "was fairly strict", "was quite demanding", or "imposed strict regulations" depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is "was pretty stringent" formal or informal?

The phrase "was pretty stringent" leans towards the less formal side due to the use of "pretty" as an intensifier. While generally acceptable, consider using alternatives like "quite stringent" or "very stringent" in highly formal settings.