What's the opposite for "steep learning curve"?

Question

[Inspired by the What is meant by "steep learning curve"? question]

Is there a phrase similar to steep learning curve (i.e. [some-word] learning curve) describing something that is easy to learn?

"It's easy to pick up" or "It's easy to learn" would make sense. We start wondering how difficult things are to learn when they're actually hard to learn. — Fabien Snauwaert, Feb 23 '18 at 08:44
Easy to learn subjects have a steep learning curve, how about "a long learning curve" as it requires longer time? — Daniel Katz, Apr 06 '18 at 18:23

score 21 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 04 '10 at 13:15

21

How about gentle learning curve?

answered Dec 04 '10 at 13:15

NPE

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I like this: it says that the learning is gentle without making any mistakes about the shape of the curve. So a gentle learning curve would be, properly, a steep learning curve! – ShreevatsaR Dec 06 '10 at 13:41
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Is it commonly used? – Edwin Ashworth Sep 12 '17 at 23:35

score 16 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 19 '12 at 17:34

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A "gradual learning curve".

You can Google the phrase - it's used all over to imply the opposite of "steep learning curve".

edited Jul 19 '12 at 17:34

cornbread ninja 麵包忍者

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answered Dec 04 '10 at 13:52

S Red

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score 12 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 06 '10 at 13:09

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I prefer flat learning curve.

It does not have confusing positive connotations (as in 'gentle' or 'smooth') as mild learning curve is a Bad Thing. Flat means horizontal, ultimately never reaching the value L(x)=1, implying, this is something not possible to learn, no matter how hard you try.

answered Dec 06 '10 at 13:09

Pavel Radzivilovsky

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I agree that flat curve is the best opposite for steep curve, but I believe the questioner was in fact looking for something with positive connotations. – ShreevatsaR Dec 06 '10 at 13:40
How can something be curved and flat? This sounds more confusing than the other offerings, IMHO. – CJM Dec 06 '10 at 14:08
@CJM: A "curve" is a general mathematical term for, roughly, any connected shape that has no width (formally, the image of a continuous function defined on an interval), and in particular straight lines are examples of curves. I imagine most people who know about the meaning of curve as the graph of a mathematical function know this. – ShreevatsaR Dec 06 '10 at 14:38
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@ShreevatsaR: In Maths, a curve is [effectively] a line that is not required to be straight. I'd agree that a curve can be straight, especially if sampled appropriately, however it's generally-understood meaning is that is isn't straight. Furthermore, flat cannot be an antonym for steep because a steep curve could equally be flat. For those two reasons, Flat is not an appropriate choice. Steep refers to the rate of change and not the linearity. 'Gentle' does not require the curve to be flat or not, but does infer a lesser rate of change. – CJM Dec 08 '10 at 11:19

score 5 · Answer 4 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:38

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Just for completeness: As I answered on the 'steep learning curve' question, "steep learning curve" itself technically means something that's easy to learn.

(Admittedly, unless you're going to explain this, or are writing for an appropriate technical audience that understands the phrase in this sense, it is advisable to use a different phrase.)

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:38

Community

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answered Dec 04 '10 at 17:48

ShreevatsaR

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score 3 · Answer 5 · answered Dec 04 '10 at 16:11

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I often hear "smooth learning curve"

answered Dec 04 '10 at 16:11

Uberto

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As per my comments on 'flat', I'd argue that 'smooth' is not an appropriate antonym for 'steep'. A curve can be both smooth and steep. – CJM Dec 08 '10 at 11:21
for a street curve I agree, for a learning curve I'm less sure. Anyway I just reported it as idiom I often hear at work. – Uberto Dec 08 '10 at 11:35

score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Sep 12 '17 at 20:20

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Personally, I say "protracted learning-curve" or "shallow learning-curve" to describe the opposite of "shallow-learning curve." Thank ya.

answered Sep 12 '17 at 20:20

alexanderjsingleton

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Hello, alexander. ELU concentrates on common or reasonably common usage. Have you evidence that this is commonly used? If not, it becomes writing advice and off-topic. – Edwin Ashworth Sep 12 '17 at 23:35

score 2 · Answer 7 · answered Dec 04 '10 at 15:51

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To my ear mild learning curve sounds best.

answered Dec 04 '10 at 15:51

Robert Koritnik

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score 2 · Answer 8 · answered Dec 06 '10 at 14:16

I'd agree that 'Gentle' is a suitable antonym for 'Steep', but perhaps one might tackle the problem in a different way.

Perhaps, rather than having an 'antonym-of-steep learning curve', it is stated that the subject 'doesn't have a steep learning curve'? My point is, if figuring out the most appropriate opposite was a matter of some debate, perhaps it's easier to negate the original phrase... a phrase that is universally recognised and understood.

score 1 · Answer 9 · answered Mar 05 '22 at 14:57

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I agree with @alexanderjsingleton: shallow learning curve. Since steep is a geometric expression, its antonym should also be in the same domain.

I wanted this to be a comment but I could not add below image there. Image source: here

answered Mar 05 '22 at 14:57

Ahmet

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score 1 · Answer 10 · answered Jul 19 '12 at 17:32

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Personal preference:

soft learning curve
no learning curve
light learning curve
benign learning curve
genial learning curve
moderate learning curve

answered Jul 19 '12 at 17:32

Pacerier

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score 1 · Answer 11 · answered Jul 19 '12 at 17:35

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If you think about the verticality of something you could have a "level learning curve".

answered Jul 19 '12 at 17:35

Ste

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score 0 · Answer 12 · answered Dec 07 '11 at 09:15

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how about minimal learning curve

answered Dec 07 '11 at 09:15

john hammond

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score -1 · Answer 13 · edited Mar 13 '13 at 16:47

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From the above posts (which I must admit are quite well technically reasoned out), I am inclined to go for the near literal opposite of "even curve", if anything like that can be found in the vocabulary of the field of study — just for clarity purposes.

edited Mar 13 '13 at 16:47

RegDwigнt

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answered Mar 13 '13 at 13:26

munyaradzi mushato

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What's the opposite for "steep learning curve"?

13 Answers13

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