I was appalling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was appalling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a self-assessment of one's behavior or actions that were considered very bad or unacceptable. Example: "After reflecting on my actions during the meeting, I realized that I was appalling in my response to the criticism."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

To be fair, he was right: I was appalling.

The Guardian

I was appalling at Latin and started bunking off the classes.

Independent

(experienced marker) GP5: I was appalling [as a student].

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

I stopped sending that out immediately; I thought it was appalling.

The New York Times - Arts

"I think it was appalling behaviour.

The Guardian - Sport

"I thought it was appalling behaviour by the manager," the Australia cricket team doctor said.

Independent

"It was great in terms of ratings, I thought it was appalling in terms of the way it just seemed to take over the American media," Kurtz said.

Huffington Post

It's just... filthy, and I'm appalling myself.

The New York Times - Books

I know that sounds trite but I'm appalling at buying souvenirs.

The Guardian - Travel

I think it's appalling.

Independent

I mean, it's appalling.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I was appalling", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific action or behavior is being criticized. This adds clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

While "appalling" is a strong word, be cautious about overusing it, especially in formal writing. Consider using more nuanced vocabulary to describe the severity of the situation or performance. For example, words such as "substandard", "inadequate" or "deficient" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was appalling" functions as a statement of self-assessment, where the speaker acknowledges that their behavior, performance, or some other aspect of themselves was exceptionally poor or unacceptable. Ludwig AI confirms this expression is valid in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was appalling" is used to express strong self-criticism or the recognition of one's poor performance or behavior. Ludwig AI confirms that this is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While its usage is relatively rare, it's found mostly in news and media contexts. For formal situations, less emotive language might be more appropriate. Related phrases include "I was terrible", "I was dreadful", and "I was awful". Ensure clarity by specifying what action or behavior you are criticizing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I performed terribly

Replaces "appalling" with "terribly", focusing on the act of performing poorly.

I was dreadful

Substitutes "appalling" with "dreadful", conveying a similar sense of being very bad.

I was awful

Uses "awful" instead of "appalling", indicating a bad or unpleasant experience or performance.

I was substandard

Replaces the adjective with the more formal "substandard", indicating a failure to meet the required level.

My performance was abysmal

Changes the focus to the performance itself and uses the strong adjective "abysmal" to describe it.

I did a poor job

A more straightforward and less dramatic way of expressing poor performance.

I messed up badly

Expresses a significant error or failure using informal language.

I was a complete failure

Uses stronger language to indicate a total lack of success.

I didn't measure up

Indicates that the person failed to meet expectations or standards.

I was not up to par

An idiomatic expression meaning the person did not perform as well as expected.

FAQs

What does it mean to say "I was appalling"?

Saying "I was appalling" means you recognize that your behavior or performance was very bad or unacceptable. It's a strong admission of fault.

What can I say instead of "I was appalling"?

You can use alternatives like "I was terrible", "I was dreadful", or "I was awful" depending on the context. These all convey a similar sense of poor performance or behavior.

Is it appropriate to use "I was appalling" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "I was appalling" might be too strong for some formal contexts. Consider using less emotive language such as "I was substandard" or "My performance was unsatisfactory" for professional or academic settings.

How can I make "I was appalling" more specific?

To make "I was appalling" more specific, add context about what you are referring to. For example, "I was appalling in my handling of the client meeting" provides more clarity.