minus-squarewandermind@sopuli.xyztoData Is Beautiful@lemmy.ml•What words do we perceive as negative or positive in the US? (UK version inside)linkfedilinkarrow-up1arrow-down1·1 year agoBecause “pretty” as a modifier generally means that something is relatively so, but not completely. Like if you draw a line freehand and it comes out “pretty straight”, it’s relatively straight but not completely straight. If you buy something that is “pretty cheap”, it’s relatively cheap, but still a bit on the expensive side. Similarly, if something is “pretty good”, it’s relatively good but not perfectly good. linkfedilink
Because “pretty” as a modifier generally means that something is relatively so, but not completely.
Like if you draw a line freehand and it comes out “pretty straight”, it’s relatively straight but not completely straight.
If you buy something that is “pretty cheap”, it’s relatively cheap, but still a bit on the expensive side.
Similarly, if something is “pretty good”, it’s relatively good but not perfectly good.