How annoying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "How annoying" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to express frustration or irritation about a situation or behavior. Example: "How annoying it is when people talk during a movie!" Alternative expressions include "So irritating" and "What a nuisance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Social Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

How annoying.

The Guardian - Business

How annoying is that?

The New York Times - Books

How annoying, I thought.

The Guardian - Books

How annoying is it?

The Guardian - Opinion

How annoying of us!

The Guardian - Opinion

How annoying, then, that it is Mr Sarkozy who is getting the good headlines.

The Economist

How annoying to have to overbook my busy morning with this nonsense.

The New York Times - Health

How annoying must it have been for General Manager Dan Duquette to watch Clemens?

The New York Times - Sports

How annoying that the locals should raise this unknown above the two giants of travel literature.

The Guardian - Travel

How annoying must it be to have your house "sold" to some gullible recipient of a Nigerian email scam?

The New Yorker

How annoying is everything?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Incorporate it into rhetorical questions like "How annoying is that?" to engage the reader and invite them to share your perspective.

Common error

Writers often slip into using "How annoying" in formal reports or academic papers to describe data anomalies or setbacks. Instead of using this subjective emotional marker, opt for objective language such as "The technical delay was problematic" or "The inconsistency in results proved challenging".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "How annoying" functions as an exclamatory adjective phrase. It utilizes the adverb 'how' as an intensifier followed by the present participle 'annoying' acting as an adjective. According to Ludwig AI and its database of examples, it often appears as an elliptical sentence where the subject and verb (e.g., 'it is') are implied but omitted for brevity and impact.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki & General Knowledge

20%

Social Media & Blogs

10%

Less common in

Science & Research

2%

Academic Textbooks

2%

Legal Documents

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "How annoying" is a versatile tool for expressing irritation across various media. Ludwig AI identifies it as a correct and highly frequent expression used by top-tier publishers to add voice and personality to their writing. While it is perfectly acceptable in journalistic and conversational contexts, writers should be mindful of its subjective nature. It is most effective when used to highlight a specific, relatable grievance, such as tech glitches or social faux pas. By utilizing alternatives like "so irritating" or "how frustrating", you can fine-tune the intensity and nuance of your frustration to match the specific context of your sentence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

So irritating

Uses an intensifier with a synonymous adjective for a similar emotive effect.

Highly annoying

An adverbial modification that emphasizes the degree of the annoyance.

How frustrating

Focuses more on the feeling of being hindered or blocked rather than just irritated.

What a nuisance

Nouns a person, thing, or circumstance as the source of the annoyance, often used in British English.

How bothersome

Slightly more formal or polite tone compared to the more direct original.

It's such a pain

A common idiomatic expression that is more informal and conversational.

How aggravating

Suggests a higher level of intensity or a situation that makes a problem worse.

What a drag

Informal slang used to describe a boring or disappointing situation.

How tedious

Specific to annoyance caused by boredom or repetitive tasks.

How vexing

A more literary or old-fashioned term for being worried or annoyed.

FAQs

How to use "How annoying" in a sentence?

You can use it as a standalone exclamation to react to a situation, or as the start of a sentence followed by a description of the problem, such as "How annoying that it started raining just now".

What can I say instead of "How annoying"?

Depending on the situation, you can use alternatives like "so irritating", "what a nuisance", or "how frustrating".

Is it correct to say "How annoying" or "How annoyed"?

Both are correct but have different meanings. "How annoying" describes the thing or situation causing the trouble, while "how annoyed" describes the person's feeling of being irritated.

Is "How annoying" considered formal English?

No, it is generally considered neutral or informal. In very formal contexts, you might say "it is regrettable" or "this is highly problematic".