Is it correct to say: He is a ‘mediocre?’ (See more…)

‘Mediocre’ is fundamentally an adjective. But saying, for instance:

‘He is a ‘mediocre,’’ makes ‘mediocre’ function as a noun which should not be the case. So, the correct sentence should be:

“He is mediocre.” Here, the word ‘mediocre’ clearly functions as an adjective, which is the right thing.

Using ‘mediocre’ as a noun would disrupt standard grammatical structures and potentially lead to confusion. The noun form of ‘mediocre’ which is ‘mediocrity’ exists to describe the state or quality of being ‘mediocre,’ further supporting the adjectival nature of ‘mediocre.’