a poor interest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a poor interest" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a lack of enthusiasm or engagement in a particular subject or activity, but the phrasing is awkward. Example: "His presentation on the topic generated a poor interest among the audience, leading to a lack of questions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Thought 0.1% was a poor interest rate?

The Guardian - Money

Technology stocks suffered heavily as a poor interest rate outlook forced valuations downwards.

Forbes

Moreover, the development of new vaccines in order to protect minor species against infection causing economical and management problems meets a poor interest from the pharmaceutical industry.

BMC Veterinary Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

After rising to prominence and then flaming out on Wall Street —  he was forced out at investment bank First Boston after losing $100 million on a poor interest-rate bet —  he started BlackRock in 1988.

Independent

"The difference between a really poor interest rate and the very best interest rate can sometimes [mean] hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds," says Anna Bowes, director of Savingschampion.co.uk.

BBC

Stocks were depressed in Tuesday morning trading as investors fretted over the lack of obvious technical support levels and an increasingly poor interest rate outlook.

Forbes

Similarly, influence of private sector physicians and physician bodies was limited as a result of poor interest in preventive activities and a limited influence of professional bodies on priority setting.

BMC Health Services Research

"Metro Bank could be missing a trick here as poor interest rates are one of the biggest bug bears consumers have with existing banks".

The Guardian - Business

Interest payments on debt are often regarded as an onerous burden placed on the poor; interest is seen as an unjustified reward for capital, a concept that goes back to Aristotle and is implicit in the Christian idea of usury.

The Economist

HER2 appears to be of poor interest as a potential target in the treatment of cervical cancer.

BMC Cancer

Therefore, HER2 appears to be of poor interest as a potential target in the treatment of cervical cancer.

BMC Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a lack of enthusiasm or engagement, avoid the phrase "a poor interest". Instead, use alternatives like "little interest" or "lack of interest" for clarity and better grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "poor" as a general qualifier for abstract nouns like "interest". While "poor" works well with concrete nouns (e.g., "a poor man"), it's less effective with abstract concepts. Stick to more appropriate adjectives like "low", "little", or "lacking" to describe the intensity or presence of interest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a poor interest" functions as a noun phrase, where "poor" acts as an adjective modifying "interest". According to Ludwig AI, this phrasing is considered incorrect and awkward.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a poor interest" appears in some contexts, it is generally considered grammatically awkward and incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that it's better to use alternatives such as "little interest", "lack of interest", or "minimal interest". The phrase aims to express a deficiency in enthusiasm or engagement, but its infrequent and inconsistent usage makes it a less desirable choice. Its primary contexts are News & Media and Science, but the authoritative sources lean towards recommending clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives to convey the intended meaning effectively. Therefore, it's advisable to avoid using "a poor interest" in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

little interest

Focuses on the quantity of interest, implying a low level.

minimal interest

Similar to 'little interest' but emphasizes the insignificance of the interest.

lack of interest

Highlights the absence of interest altogether.

limited interest

Suggests the interest exists but is restricted or not widespread.

scant interest

Implies that the interest is barely present or insufficient.

weak interest

Describes the intensity of interest as feeble or fragile.

feeble interest

Like 'weak interest' this highlights the delicate or faltering nature of the interest.

waning interest

Indicates that the interest is diminishing over time.

declining interest

Similar to 'waning interest', showing a downward trend in interest.

deficient interest

Emphasizes the incompleteness or insufficiency of the interest.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "a poor interest"?

Instead of "a poor interest", consider using phrases such as "little interest", "lack of interest", or "minimal interest". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a poor interest"?

While understandable, the phrase "a poor interest" is not considered grammatically strong in standard English. It's better to use more common and clearer phrases like "little interest" or "lack of interest".

How can I use "interest" correctly when describing something that isn't very engaging?

To describe something that isn't very engaging, specify the amount or degree of interest. For example, say "There was "little interest" in the presentation" or "The topic generated "minimal interest"".

What's the difference between "a poor interest" and "low interest"?

"Low interest" refers to the level of engagement or enthusiasm about something, while "a poor interest" is grammatically awkward. While "low interest rates" is common in finance, using "low interest" to describe general engagement is clearer than "a poor interest".