with some success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "with some success" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence to describe the extent to which you achieved something. For example: "I attempted to complete the project with some success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

With some success, too.

The Guardian - Sport

And with some success".

The Guardian

This maneuver met with some success.

Encyclopedia Britannica

With some success, it seems.

The New York Times

The strategy has met with some success.

The New York Times

Some cautionary tales are given along with some success stories.

Physica B: Condensed Matter

Wilson has tried, with some success, to block it out.

The New Yorker

He has taken the diplomatic route, with some success.

The Economist

But other approaches have been tried with some success.

The Economist

For a time, they played the game with some success.

The New Yorker

BattleFin's approach has already met with some success.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "with some success" when you want to acknowledge positive outcomes without overstating the level of achievement. It's ideal when results are tangible but not fully comprehensive.

Common error

Avoid using "with some success" if the outcome was overwhelmingly positive. Instead, opt for stronger terms like "highly successful" or "completely successful" to accurately reflect the achievement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with some success" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the degree to which an action or effort achieves its intended outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is perfectly usable in written English. Many of the examples show it qualifying the verbs of actions like implementing a "strategy" or "approach".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

28%

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

4%

Academia

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "with some success" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adverbial phrase that denotes a partial or moderate achievement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English. It's versatile, fitting into various contexts like news reports, scientific papers, and business communications. While numerous alternatives exist, each carries subtle nuances in meaning. When using this phrase, consider the degree of achievement you want to convey, and avoid overstating the impact. Remember, "with some success" is most appropriate when the outcome is tangible but not fully comprehensive. Major authoritative sources like The Guardian, The New York Times and The New Yorker employ the expression often.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderately successful

This alternative uses an adjective to directly describe the level of success, providing a more concise option.

partially successful

This focuses on the incomplete nature of the success, highlighting that not all goals were met.

to a certain extent

This phrase indicates that something was effective up to a limit, implying that the success was not complete.

with limited success

This highlights the constraints or boundaries within which the success was achieved, suggesting that the impact was small.

somewhat effectively

This uses an adverb to describe how effectively something was done, focusing on the manner of execution.

with a degree of success

This alternative uses a more formal tone, highlighting that the success was measurable or significant.

with moderate results

This uses a different noun, "results", instead of "success", shifting the focus to outcomes.

not entirely in vain

This emphasizes that the effort was not completely fruitless, implying that there were positive outcomes despite potential failures.

with a modicum of success

This suggests that the success was very small or barely achieved, emphasizing the limited impact.

to some avail

This emphasizes that the effort yielded at least some benefit or positive outcome.

FAQs

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

You can use "with some success" to indicate a partial or moderate achievement. For example, "The company attempted to enter the new market "with some success", gaining a small share within the first year."

What are some alternatives to "with some success"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "moderately successful", "partially successful", or "to a certain extent".

Is it more appropriate to say "with some success" or "successful"?

The choice depends on the degree of achievement. Use "successful" when the outcome is generally positive and significant. Use "with some success" when the achievement is limited or partial.

What's the difference between "with some success" and "with limited success"?

"With some success" implies a generally positive result, even if not complete. "With limited success" suggests that the effort mostly failed, although it might have achieved a small positive outcome. The former is more optimistic.