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Rishonly Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

as good as and if not better

Hello,

Would you please explain the usage and meaning of of 'as good as ......, if not better"?

Thanks,

Kris
  

Top answer

It means the same as "at least as good as". If X is as good as Y, if not better, then X may be better than Y, the speaker is not sure, but in any case X is certainly as good as Y. In mathematical terms, if X is as good as Y, then: goodness of X = goodness of Y If X is better than Y, then: goodness of X > goodness of Y If X is as good as Y, if not better, then: goodness of X = goodness of Y and maybe goodness of X > goodness of Y.

— CalifJim

  • It means the same as "at least as good as".
  • If X is as good as Y, if not better, then X may be better than Y, the speaker is not sure, but in any case X is certainly as good as Y.
  • In mathematical terms, if X is as good as Y, then: goodness of X = goodness of Y If X is better than Y, then: goodness of X > goodness of Y If X is as good as Y, if not better, then: goodness of X = goodness of Y and maybe goodness of X > goodness of Y.
  • Stated differently: If it is not the case that goodness of X > goodness of Y, then, at the very least, goodness of X = goodness of Y.
  • Does that help?
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5 Answers
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It means the same as "at least as good as".

If X is as good as Y, if not better, then X may be better than Y, the speaker is not sure, but in any case X is certainly as good as Y.

In mathematical terms, if X is as good as Y, then:

goodness of X = goodness of Y

If X is better than Y, then:

goodness of X > goodness of Y

If X is a
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Thanks , CJ.

I got an additional question on this topic. Which one of the following patterns is correct and what do they mean?

(1) My theme is as good as, if not better than, yours.

(2) My theme is as good as yours, if not better.

Thanks

Kris
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Both are correct and mean the same thing. The second reads more smoothly in my opinion.
After reading my previous answer you already know what they mean.
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Thanks, Jim. I got it.
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