a poor job

USAGE SUMMARY

"a poor job" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to express an opinion about the quality of a task that has been completed, for example: "John did a poor job of organizing the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They just do a poor job".

The New Yorker

And Romney did a poor job.

The Washington Post

Your brain probably does a poor job understanding asynchronous operations.

The New York Times

They do a poor job of solving murders.

The New Yorker

Whoever treated him in Kandahar did a poor job.

The New York Times - Magazine

"We did a poor job closing out the first half.

The New York Times - Sports

Has the president done a poor job in many respects?

The Washington Post

"I did a poor job of writing that page".

The New York Times

If so, they are doing a poor job.

The New York Times

We did a poor job recognizing what was open".

The New York Times - Sports

We did a poor job in the first half.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience when using the phrase "a poor job". While appropriate in many contexts, more formal settings might benefit from a more diplomatic expression, such as "opportunities for improvement exist".

Common error

Avoid simply labeling something as "a poor job" without providing constructive criticism. Offer specific suggestions for improvement to foster growth and avoid demoralizing the individual or team responsible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a poor job" functions as a noun phrase, where 'poor' is an adjective modifying the noun 'job'. It serves to describe the quality of a task or piece of work, indicating that it was not done well. Ludwig confirms its validity and frequent use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Academia

16%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a poor job" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe work that is subpar. As confirmed by Ludwig, it appears frequently in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While generally neutral in tone, it's essential to use it constructively, providing specific feedback rather than just stating the obvious. Alternatives like ""a substandard effort"" or ""an inadequate performance"" may be more suitable for formal settings. Remember to offer guidance and focus on improvement when using this phrase to avoid discouragement and foster growth.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a substandard effort

Replaces "poor job" with a more formal term emphasizing that the effort didn't meet the required standard.

an inadequate performance

Focuses on the performance aspect, highlighting that it was insufficient or not good enough.

a botched attempt

Suggests that the attempt was not only unsuccessful but also poorly executed.

a deficient execution

Emphasizes the faulty way in which something was carried out.

a lamentable showing

Uses a more emotive term ("lamentable") to describe the poor quality of the performance.

a disappointing outcome

Shifts the focus from the effort to the unsatisfactory result.

a failure

A direct and concise way of saying that something didn't succeed.

an unsuccessful endeavor

Replaces "job" with a more formal term ("endeavor") and emphasizes the lack of success.

a half-baked piece of work

Implies that the job was not fully thought out or properly prepared.

a slipshod task

Highlights the carelessness and lack of attention to detail in the task.

FAQs

What are some synonyms for "a poor job"?

Alternatives to "a poor job" include "a substandard effort", "an inadequate performance", or "a botched attempt", depending on the context.

How can I use "a poor job" in a sentence?

You can use "a poor job" to express dissatisfaction with the quality of work. For example, "The contractor did a poor job on the renovations, and we had to hire someone else to fix it."

What is a more formal way to say "a poor job"?

In a more formal setting, consider using phrases like "the execution was deficient" or "the performance was inadequate" instead of directly saying "a poor job".

Is it better to say "a bad job" or "a poor job"?

Both "a bad job" and "a poor job" are acceptable, but "a poor job" might sound slightly more refined or less harsh in certain contexts. The choice often depends on personal preference and the specific situation.