Pretty

We can use pretty as an adverb, before an adjective or another adverb, meaning ‘quite, but not extremely’. It is informal:

• I’m pretty sure we’ve met before. Were you at Clare Harding’s wedding?
• You need to get there pretty early to get a good seat.

Pretty well as a modifier means ‘almost’:

• That’s pretty well all we need to do this morning, so why don’t we break for lunch?

warning

We don’t use pretty in more formal situations. We use quite or fairly:

• [in a job application letter]
• At present I am employed at a branch of the National Bank in a fairly large city.
• Not: … in a pretty large city.

Pretty does not mean the same as very:

• It was very kind of you to lend us your car when we stayed with you.
• Not: It was pretty kind of you …

We don’t use pretty in negative sentences:

• The restaurant wasn’t very good, really. I don’t think we’ll go there again. (or The restaurant wasn’t so good …)
• Not: … wasn’t pretty good …