Cool MateAcceptable vs Not great but not horrifying
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Acceptable
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Not great but not horrifying
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Acceptable
| Acceptable | Not great but not horrifying | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əkˈseptəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əkˈseptəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //nɒt greɪt bʌt nɒt ˈhɔːrɪfaɪɪŋ//🇺🇸 //nɑt ɡreɪt bət nɑt ˈhɔrɪfaɪɪŋ// |
| Meaning | Okay or good enough to be used. | Not very good, but also not really bad. |
| Example | The noise level in the library is not acceptable for studying. | The movie was not great but not horrifying; it had some funny moments. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, prove, seem, highly, very, completely, to, the boundaries of acceptable…, the bounds of acceptable…, the limits of acceptable…, be, prove, seem, highly, very, completely, to, the boundaries of acceptable…, the bounds of acceptable…, the limits of acceptable… | not great, not horrifying, average quality, somewhat acceptable, mediocre experience |
| Antonyms | unacceptable, unsatisfactory, poor | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'acceptable' vs 'accepted'., Using 'acceptable' as a noun incorrectly., Overusing 'acceptable' in contexts that require stronger words like 'excellent' or 'outstanding'. | Using 'horrifying' instead of 'bad' in other contexts., Forgetting to include 'great' and 'horrifying' correctly., Using the phrase in overly formal situations. |
| Usage notes | Used in both spoken and written contexts to indicate something that meets necessary standards. It can be formal in academic contexts and more casual in everyday conversations. Avoid in circumstances that require high standards or exceptional quality. | This expression is often used informally to give a balanced opinion when something is average. It can be suitable for various contexts including casual conversations and informal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Acceptable vs Not great but not horrifying
What's the difference between Acceptable and Not great but not horrifying?
Acceptable: Okay or good enough to be used. Not great but not horrifying: Not very good, but also not really bad.
Which is more common: Acceptable and Not great but not horrifying?
Acceptable is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Acceptable: The noise level in the library is not acceptable for studying. Not great but not horrifying: The movie was not great but not horrifying; it had some funny moments.
Can I use Acceptable and Not great but not horrifying interchangeably?
Not always. Acceptable and Not great but not horrifying are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.