a poor route

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a poor route" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a path or method that is not effective or efficient, often in the context of travel or decision-making. Example: "Taking the back roads turned out to be a poor route, as it added an hour to our journey."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

This is a poor route to follow.

The Economist

After Burress dropped a 15-yard pass, Gruden said Burress ran a "poor" route and needed to get out of his break better.

The New York Times - Sports

Finally, a new benchmark UMTSP case study is presented to illustrate the construction and solution of UMTSP, which shows that the optimal route in deterministic TSP can be a poor route in UMTSP.

European Journal of Operational Research

Several factors make intranasal ingestion of cannabis a poor route of administration.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The fourth interception may have been Romo's fault, though the intended receiver, Miles Austin, ran a very poor route, failing to cross the face of cornerback D.J. Moore.

The New York Times

He was easily beaten out by Laveranues Coles for a starting slot, with the Jets blaming, in part, Hatchette's poor route running.

The New York Times - Sports

Excluding the 10 NHS trusts, because of poor route to diagnosis, data affected six networks and reduced their case-ascertainment by between 11 and 42%.

BMJ Open

Last week's attempt was undermined by interceptions, poor routes and dropped balls.

The New York Times - Sports

The players said, for example, that wide receivers had run poor routes several times in the Tampa Bay game.

The New York Times - Sports

Some blamed earlier accidents on inexperienced ice fishermen who chose poor routes or failed to recognize warning signs.

The New York Times

Participants with a good SOD learned more accurate spatial knowledge than those reporting a poor SOD for landmark familiarity, route ordering, route actions, and direction estimation.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pairing "a poor route" with specific examples of its negative consequences strengthens your argument and enhances clarity. For instance, "Investing in that company was a poor route to financial security, as their stock prices plummeted after a series of scandals."

Common error

While "poor" is understandable, substituting with more formal alternatives like "suboptimal" or "inefficient" can elevate the tone of your writing, particularly in academic or professional settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a poor route" functions as an adjective phrase modifying the noun "route". It describes the quality of the route, indicating it is not a good or effective choice, as illustrated by Ludwig in its examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a poor route" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe an ineffective or undesirable path or method. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not overly formal, it's versatile enough for various contexts, though formal settings might benefit from alternatives like "suboptimal approach". Predominantly found in News & Media and Science sources, it serves to express disapproval or caution against a particular course of action. Remember to use it to convey clear judgment about the ineffectiveness of a chosen path.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an inefficient path

Emphasizes the lack of efficiency in the chosen path.

a suboptimal course

Highlights that the course isn't the best or most favorable.

a bad choice of direction

Focuses on the negative aspect of selecting a particular direction.

an unwise path

Suggests a lack of wisdom or good judgment in selecting the route.

an unfortunate route

Indicates the route leads to undesirable outcomes.

a regrettable path

Suggests a feeling of regret associated with taking the route.

a mistaken path

Indicates the route was taken in error.

an ill-advised route

Emphasizes that the route was not well thought out.

an unfavorable route

Implies the route leads to negative circumstances or outcomes.

a deficient route

Stresses the inadequacy or lacking quality of the route.

FAQs

What does "a poor route" mean?

The phrase "a poor route" indicates an ineffective or undesirable path, method, or course of action. It suggests that the chosen approach is not likely to lead to a successful outcome.

What can I say instead of "a poor route"?

You can use alternatives like "an inefficient path", "a suboptimal course", or "an unwise path" depending on the context.

Is "a poor route" formal or informal?

The phrase "a poor route" is generally considered neutral in tone, suitable for both informal and some formal contexts. However, more formal settings might benefit from alternatives like "suboptimal approach" or "ineffective strategy".

How to use "a poor route" in a sentence?

You can use "a poor route" to describe a bad decision or a method that did not work, such as, "Investing in that company proved to be a poor route to financial stability."