What comes between liability and asset?

[jon1968]

When describing a person what comes between describing them as a liability and an asset, mediocrity sounds harsh, able sounds patronising.......

Any help is much appreciated.

[jno]

I'm not sure there is a halfway position - in a business, if you're not an asset then you're a liability because you're not adding value (or whatever phrase you'd like to use). But I would have thought you'd be an asset if you were 'able'. Are you trying to write someone a reference? Perhaps some fairly nebulous phrase like 'did his bit' or 'made a contribution' would do?

[jon1968]

Thanks jno, it is for a reference of sorts, the girl is a bit of an anomaly, does what is required very well but doesn't exceed expectations although I'm sure she could!

Wouldn't dream of giving a bad reference but wouldn't want to 'glam' her up either!?
I'd like to lean towards 'good' in the reference but words like 'able / adept / competent / proficient' all seem vague or erring towards 'bad' !!

Thanks again.

[jno]

oh no, I think something like 'competent' is perfectly acceptable - it means she can do her job and does, without sounding snide, but doesn't imply that she gives it that little bit extra.

I always found the really tricky task was giving someone an apparently glowing reference in the hope that someone else would hire them and take them off my hands asap.

Useful unclear phrases for future reference (not in the present case, of course): 'She has forged her way ahead' (suspected plagiarist); 'She leaves us fired with enthusiasm'!

[Octavius]

you could say that she handles any task GIVEN to her with exemplary competence. Thus implying that she does her job well, but only when told what to do.