with mixed success

USAGE SUMMARY

"with mixed success" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a situation in which some goals have been achieved or successes have been experienced, but overall the results are not necessarily satisfactory. For example: The company attempted to launch a new line of products, but with mixed success.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The interventions have met with mixed success.

The New York Times

The junior QBs responded with mixed success.

The New Yorker

Those approaches met with mixed success.

The New York Times

These attempts were met with mixed success.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Volunteers directed traffic with mixed success.

The New York Times

These efforts have met with mixed success.

The New York Times

I've tried to explain it away, with mixed success.

The New Yorker

Some doctors prescribe antidepressants, with mixed success, for the condition.

The New York Times

The merger of the courts has met with mixed success.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, I keep experimenting with companion planting, with mixed success.

The New York Times

British managers have tried foreign approaches with mixed success.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "with mixed success" to provide a balanced assessment when evaluating outcomes that are neither entirely positive nor entirely negative. This adds nuance to your writing and avoids overly simplistic judgments.

Common error

Avoid using "with mixed success" as a vague statement. Always provide context or examples to illustrate why the success was mixed. What aspects worked well, and which did not?

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with mixed success" typically functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the manner in which an action was performed or a goal was achieved. It qualifies the outcome, suggesting both positive and negative aspects. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

24%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "with mixed success" serves as a valuable tool for expressing balanced assessments of outcomes, acknowledging both achievements and shortcomings. Grammatically sound and commonly used, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it enriches writing by providing nuance. Its prevalence across News & Media, Science and Encyclopedias highlights its broad applicability and versatility, making it suitable for formal and informal contexts. Remember to provide specific context when using it, and to consider alternatives like "with limited success" or "with varying degrees of effectiveness" to achieve the desired shade of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with limited triumph

Replaces "success" with "triumph", emphasizing the partial or incomplete nature of the positive outcome.

with partial achievement

Focuses on the aspect of "achievement" being incomplete or not fully realized.

with varying degrees of effectiveness

Highlights the inconsistency in how well something works or achieves its purpose.

with checkered results

Uses "checkered" to imply a pattern of both positive and negative outcomes.

with inconsistent gains

Emphasizes that the "gains" or benefits are not uniform or reliable.

with uneven outcomes

Focuses on the disparity and lack of uniformity in the results obtained.

with a combination of wins and losses

Explicitly mentions both positive ("wins") and negative ("losses") outcomes.

with a mixed bag of results

Uses the idiom "mixed bag" to indicate a collection of both good and bad outcomes.

with some advances and some setbacks

Highlights the presence of both positive "advances" and negative "setbacks".

with fluctuating fortunes

Replaces "success" with "fortunes", suggesting that the results have varied over time.

FAQs

How can I use "with mixed success" in a sentence?

You can use "with mixed success" to describe situations where efforts have yielded both positive and negative results. For example, "The company's marketing campaign met "with mixed success"; while it increased brand awareness, it didn't significantly boost sales."

What are some alternatives to "with mixed success"?

Alternatives include "with limited success", "with varying degrees of success", or "with uneven results", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "with mixed success" or "with mixed results"?

Both "with mixed success" and "with mixed results" are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. However, "with mixed success" focuses more on the degree of achievement, while "with mixed results" emphasizes the variety of outcomes.

Can "with mixed success" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "with mixed success" is suitable for formal writing. Ludwig AI examples show it appears in academic, news media, and business contexts, showing its versatility and appropriateness across registers.