within acceptable bounds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "within acceptable bounds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is considered to be within limits that are deemed appropriate or permissible. Example: "The project's budget is tight, but we believe that the expenses are still within acceptable bounds."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Rarely have the tactics to maintain argument within acceptable bounds been more obvious.

The Guardian - Opinion

For example, the circle should disband when the new technology has been debugged or when quality has been brought within acceptable bounds.

Harvard Business Review

Various empirical relationships approximately represent the experimental data, with the different types of concrete exhibiting discrepancies within acceptable bounds.

Construction and Building Materials

The result is the richest possible excitation signal for which the operation of a running closed-loop system remains within acceptable bounds.

IFAC-PapersOnLine

The city says that by rigorously enforcing regulations it has succeeded in reducing industrial pollution to well within acceptable bounds, but that pollution caused by untreated sewage is still beyond the permitted limit.But Huainan is neither representative nor especially admirable.

The Economist

As long as these comments are kept within acceptable bounds (although there is no widespread agreement on what those are), fans are able to cheer on their players, release pent-up frustration or do their part in helping stop an opponent's momentum.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

For both measures, the reliability coefficients were within generally acceptable bounds for research studies.

Health Economics

query answer is within acceptable error bounds with high probability.

University of California, Berkeley

HA is about mitigating the risks of failures and bringing them within acceptable, quantifiable bounds, which are part of a larger business strategy.

Configuring Sonicwall Firewalls

We then present a mechanism called a Proof Sketch, which uses a compact combination of cryptographic signatures and Flajolet-Martin sketches to verify that a query answer is within acceptable error bounds with high probability.

University of California, Berkeley

The experimental results demonstrate that the refinement toolkit achieves the expected results within acceptable performance bounds, even with the increasing complexity and size of SLAs, network topologies, and repositories.

Journal of Network and Computer Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "within acceptable bounds", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes the 'acceptable' limits. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming everyone understands what "acceptable" means in your context. Explicitly state the criteria or standards that define the bounds to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "within acceptable bounds" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or adjective. It specifies the extent to which something meets a certain standard or criterion. Ludwig examples show it clarifying ranges for error, cost, or time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "within acceptable bounds" is a useful way to indicate that something meets a specific standard or criterion. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in scientific, news, and business contexts. When using "within acceptable bounds", ensure that the limits of what is considered "acceptable" are clearly defined to prevent ambiguity. Alternatives include "within reasonable limits", "within permissible limits", or "within tolerable limits". Keeping these guidelines in mind will ensure the appropriate and effective use of the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

within reasonable limits

Focuses on the idea of being sensible and not extreme.

within permissible limits

Emphasizes the idea of being allowed or authorized.

within tolerable limits

Highlights the aspect of being bearable or endurable.

within acceptable parameters

Uses a more technical term, "parameters", implying specific measurements or conditions.

within the established range

Indicates adherence to a pre-defined set of values.

within the specified criteria

Highlights compliance with certain requirements.

within regulatory compliance

Specifically refers to meeting legal or industry standards.

within controlled boundaries

Emphasizes the aspect of being managed and contained.

within the bounds of possibility

Focuses on what is achievable or feasible.

within the margin of error

Used in statistical contexts to denote acceptable deviation from the true value.

FAQs

How can I use "within acceptable bounds" in a sentence?

You can use "within acceptable bounds" to indicate that something is within reasonable or permissible limits. For example, "The project's budget is tight, but the expenses are still "within acceptable bounds".".

What's the difference between "within acceptable bounds" and "within reasonable limits"?

"Within acceptable bounds" and "within reasonable limits" are quite similar. "Within reasonable limits" implies a degree of common sense and practicality, while "within acceptable bounds" may suggest adherence to specific, perhaps formally defined, criteria.

What are some alternatives to using "within acceptable bounds"?

Some alternatives to "within acceptable bounds" include "within reasonable limits", "within permissible limits", or "within tolerable limits" depending on the specific context.

Is it always clear what "acceptable bounds" refers to when using the phrase?

No, it's not always clear. To avoid ambiguity, it's best to define what constitutes the "acceptable" limits or criteria you are referring to when using the phrase.