a terrible prospect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a terrible prospect" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a situation or outcome that is viewed as highly undesirable or alarming. Example: "The thought of losing my job during the economic downturn presents a terrible prospect for my family and me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

And this suggests a terrible prospect.

The New York Times

This is a terrible prospect, and the Fed knows it.

The New York Times

This is not a terrible prospect, for we will still be lucky to live in a decent democracy.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

That's a terrible, terrible prospect.

The Guardian - Business

"The terrible prospect of a future competition between nations about a weapon of such formidable character can only be avoided through a universal agreement".

The New York Times

With the match goalless in the last minute of extra-time they faced the terrible prospect of a penalty shoot-out with Germany, for whom such occasions guarantee glory.

The Guardian - Sport

For many women, the choice amounts to the terrible prospect of relinquishing a measure of influence over their children or abandoning the work they love.

The New Yorker

Now Miliband faces the terrible prospect of having peaked too early.

Independent

And if out, there is the terrible prospect that I go on TV and do what they actually tell me: "Be yourself".

The Guardian - Opinion

With this ruling, the court made it even more likely that innocent people will be railroad- ed by untrained prosecutors -- with the terrible prospect of their being put to death for crimes they did not commit.

The New York Times

In this miasma, gestures and dreams can ignore the terrible prospect of years of brain-crunching negotiations on every detailed aspect of trade and regulation for every product and service, which might take not two but 10 years of soul-destroying and pointless agony, distracting from all the country's other pressing problems.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a terrible prospect" when you want to emphasize the extremely negative nature of a potential future event or situation. It's suitable for serious discussions where the potential consequences are genuinely concerning.

Common error

Avoid using "a terrible prospect" in contexts that do not warrant strong negative emphasis. Overuse can diminish the impact and make your writing seem melodramatic. Instead, opt for more neutral language like "a challenge" or "a difficulty" when the situation is not dire.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a terrible prospect" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object within a sentence. It describes a future event or situation considered extremely undesirable. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a terrible prospect" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to express a highly negative view of a potential future situation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. While not the most frequent expression, it appears consistently in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, especially within News & Media contexts. When using this phrase, consider its strong negative connotation and ensure it aligns with the seriousness of the situation you're describing. Alternatives like "an awful possibility" or "a dreadful outlook" can provide similar meanings with slight variations in intensity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an awful possibility

Changes the adjective to "awful" indicating a slightly different nuance of negativity.

a dreadful outlook

Replaces "terrible" with "dreadful" and "prospect" with "outlook", altering the tone slightly.

a grim future

Emphasizes the future aspect with "future" and uses "grim" to suggest a bleak scenario.

a bleak scenario

Focuses on the scenario being unpromising and disheartening, differing in emphasis.

a worrying development

Highlights the concern and anxiety associated with a particular event.

a disturbing possibility

Focuses on the unsettling nature of the potential outcome.

an alarming eventuality

Stresses the potential for a sudden and disturbing outcome.

an unfortunate consequence

Shifts the focus to the negative result of an action or situation.

an undesirable outcome

Presents a less emotionally charged, more neutral alternative.

a catastrophic consequence

Amplifies the negativity with "catastrophic", indicating a disastrous result.

FAQs

How can I use "a terrible prospect" in a sentence?

You can use "a terrible prospect" to describe a situation or outcome that is highly undesirable or alarming. For example: "The thought of losing our funding is "a terrible prospect" for the research team."

What can I say instead of "a terrible prospect"?

You can use alternatives like "an awful possibility", "a dreadful outlook", or "a grim future" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "a terrible prospect" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a terrible prospect" carries a strong negative connotation. In some formal contexts, such as business reports, a more neutral phrase like "a significant challenge" or "an undesirable outcome" may be more suitable.

What makes "a terrible prospect" different from "a frightening prospect"?

While both phrases describe something negative, "a terrible prospect" emphasizes the severity and unpleasantness of the situation, whereas "a frightening prospect" highlights the fear or anxiety it evokes.