I think one other list would be appropriate, because there is another common use of “good” that begs for revision.
When we experience an event that is underwhelming in its quality, we will say that it was good when we really mean that it was mediocre. This usage is a subtle beast, because it can only be detected by voice inflection. When we are really impressed with something, we say “good” with a deep, melting voice, like it’s warm butter rolling over corn on the cob. However, when we want to be diplomatic and staid in our commentary, we say “good,” but we elongate it, and the tone sounds more like a roller coaster.
Example #1:
“How was the vacation in the Swiss Alps?”
“It was goooooood.” Warm butter.
Example #2:
“How was the conference on Hungarian tax law?”
“It….was….guuhhhooooouuuhhhd.” Tentative. Furrowed brow. Up, down, up.
To resolve the confusion, here are ten other words to put in your quiver for those times when you want to say a thing was mediocre (or worse) and you are tempted to say it was good:
- Vapid
- Middling
- Adequate
- Tolerable
- Prosaic
- Acceptable
- Pedestrian
- Humdrum
- Insipid
- Passable
Any other suggestions?
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July 16, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Ched
I’ve always been a fan of “tepid,” and “lugubrious.”
As in, “She sang songs of lugubrious lament when she found her pop tarts covered in syrup.”