I was poorly

USAGE SUMMARY

'I was poorly' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe how you were feeling at a certain point in the past. For example: "I was poorly yesterday, so I went to the doctor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Although the fact is, I was poorly advised by my agent".

The Guardian - Sport

If ever I was poorly, I'd sit with the quilt and watch either Bod, which I loved, or Jamie and the Magic Torch.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

— January 3 , 1959________ From "Flight" At the age of seventeen I was poorly dressed and funny-looking, and went around thinking about myself in the third person.

The New Yorker

— January 3 , 1959From "Flight" At the age of seventeen I was poorly dressed and funny-looking, and went around thinking about myself in the third person.

The New Yorker

Throughout much of my career, from my first races with the Canadian national team as a teenager, I was poorly advised.

The New York Times - Sports

"I was not very well, I was poorly at half-time," explains the great man, who wore the number 10 shirt but now might be better known for a number two.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"I think it was poorly implemented if you ask me," said Hill.

TechCrunch

Residues of RhoE that contact ROCK-I are poorly conserved in Rnd1 and Rnd2, explaining their inability to bind ROCK-I.

EMBO Journal

"She thinks I'm poorly dressed," Marclay said at one point.

The New Yorker

In contrast, neural stem cells encapsulated in Collagen I were poorly differentiated and did not migrate significantly, thus forming clusters.

Acta Biomaterialia

If I were poorly compensated but didn't have to comply with asinine mandates and a lack of respect, that would be one thing.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past states of health or preparedness, "I was poorly" can be a suitable option. However, consider your audience and the desired level of formality. In some contexts, "I was not well" or "I was ill-prepared" may be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "badly" when referring to your health. While "badly" describes the manner in which something is done, "poorly" is more appropriate for describing a state of health or condition. For instance, say "I was poorly," not "I was badly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was poorly" functions as a subject-verb-adverbial complement structure. The verb "was" links the subject "I" to the adverb "poorly", which describes the state of the subject. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

14%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was poorly" is a grammatically correct way to describe a past state of being unwell or inadequately prepared. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. While not as common as alternatives like "I was unwell" or "I was not well", it is found in a variety of reputable sources, including news media, scientific publications, and academic texts. Its register tends to be neutral to slightly formal, making it suitable for a range of contexts. Remember to use "poorly" to describe a state of health or preparedness, distinguishing it from "badly", which describes the manner in which something is done. "I was poorly" is a less frequent alternative compared to other phrases with similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was not well

Replaces 'poorly' with a more common synonym 'not well'.

I was unwell

Substitutes 'poorly' with the direct synonym 'unwell'.

I felt sick

Uses a different verb ('felt') and a common term for illness ('sick').

I was in poor health

Emphasizes the state of health rather than a temporary condition.

I didn't feel up to par

Uses an idiomatic expression to describe not feeling well.

I was ill-prepared

Focuses on a lack of preparation rather than physical condition, altering the meaning slightly.

I was inadequately prepared

Uses a more formal term ('inadequately') to describe a lack of readiness.

I was badly advised

Shifts the focus to receiving bad advice, changing the context significantly.

I was treated badly

Indicates mistreatment rather than a state of being unwell, changing the meaning substantially.

My performance was poor

Focuses on the quality of performance instead of the speaker's state.

FAQs

How can I use "I was poorly" in a sentence?

You can use "I was poorly" to describe a past state of being unwell. For example, "I was poorly yesterday, so I stayed home from work".

What's the difference between "I was poorly" and "I was badly"?

"I was poorly" refers to a state of being unwell or inadequately prepared, while "I was badly" refers to the manner in which something was done to you or how you performed an action. For example, you can say "I was poorly", but if you want to say how you played, you should say "I played badly".

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

You can use alternatives like "I was unwell", "I was not well", or "I felt sick" depending on the context.

Is "I was poorly" a common phrase in modern English?

While grammatically correct, "I was poorly" is less common than alternatives like "I was sick" or "I was ill". Its usage may depend on regional dialects and the level of formality desired.