among a poor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "among a poor" is not correct in written English.
It is likely intended to refer to a group of poor individuals, but the phrasing is incomplete and awkward. Example: "He felt a sense of responsibility among the poor in his community."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The applause that the Sunderland players left the field to from the sizeable contingent of travelling supporters among a poor crowd of 8,975 was followed by a cheer moments later, when the fourth-round draw handed them a home tie with their bitter rivals Middlesbrough.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Among men, a poor or fair HIV knowledge score reduced the odds of having VCT (aOR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3-0.9 aOR aOR = 0.8; 95% CI: 0.6-1.0 respectively).

BMC Public Health

Dr. Rantisi still lives among refugees in a poor neighborhood here.

The New York Times

However, in one study, among women with a poor dietary intake of B12, supplements of the vitamin significantly slowed the rate of cognitive decline.

The New York Times - Health

Hyperglycemia (>10 mmol/L) was more common among patients with a poor outcome, and hypoglycemia ( < 4 mmol/L) was associated with mortality.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Among cancers with a poor prognosis, those originating from breast, lung and prostate commonly metastasize to the skeleton [1], [2].

Plosone

Persistent wheeze was more frequent among children from a poor socioeconomic background.

American Journal of Epidemiology

The most dramatic relative increase in exercise was found among those reporting a poor health status.

BMC Public Health

There is a high prevalence of self-reported chronic conditions among residents of a poor urban neighborhood in Bengaluru city.

BMC Health Services Research

It is interesting that the caries distribution among adolescents in a poor Tanzanian district is comparable to western industrial populations.

BMC Oral Health

[ 5] There is, however, limited research into the effects of exercise-based programmes among groups with a poor health in a low socio-economic position.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to people experiencing poverty, use grammatically correct and respectful language such as "among the poor" or "among impoverished individuals". Avoid phrasing that could be interpreted as dehumanizing or overly general.

Common error

Avoid using the indefinite article "a" before an adjective intended to describe a group of people. It's grammatically incorrect to say "among a poor". Instead, use "the" (e.g., "among the poor") or rephrase to use a noun (e.g., "among poor people").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "among a poor" functions as a prepositional phrase, but it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights that the use of the indefinite article "a" before the adjective "poor" is not standard English when referring to a group of people. This contrasts with correct usages such as "among the poor."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "among a poor" is grammatically incorrect and rarely used. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct way to phrase this is using "the poor" or "impoverished people". While the intended meaning is to indicate inclusion within a group experiencing poverty, the incorrect grammar undermines effective communication. It is best to use alternatives like "among the poor", "within a low-income population", or "in impoverished circumstances" for clarity and grammatical accuracy. The frequency of this phrase is rare, and it is unsuitable for formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

among the poor

Uses the definite article "the" to refer to the collective group of people experiencing poverty, making it grammatically correct.

among poor individuals

Replaces the general "a poor" with the more specific "poor individuals", clarifying the reference.

among impoverished people

Replaces "a poor" with the more grammatically correct and descriptive term "impoverished people".

among those in poverty

Rephrases to focus on the condition of poverty rather than directly labeling people.

within a disadvantaged community

Shifts the focus to the community context and uses "disadvantaged" as a more encompassing term for poverty.

within a low-income population

Uses "low-income population" to describe the group, offering a more statistical and less judgmental term.

among the needy

Uses "needy" as a synonym for poor, focusing on their requirement for assistance.

in impoverished circumstances

Focuses on the state of being in poverty rather than the people themselves.

in underprivileged communities

Highlights the lack of privilege and opportunity, emphasizing the societal aspect.

among the less fortunate

Offers a euphemistic alternative, focusing on the aspect of being less fortunate.

FAQs

What's the correct way to refer to people living in poverty?

Instead of the grammatically questionable phrase "among a poor", use more appropriate phrases such as "among the poor", "among impoverished people", or "within a low-income population".

Is it ever correct to say "among a poor"?

No, the phrase "among a poor" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Use "among the poor" or a similar alternative instead.

What are some alternatives to "among a poor" that are more respectful?

Consider using phrases that focus on the circumstances rather than directly labeling people, such as "in impoverished circumstances" or "among those in poverty". These options are often perceived as more sensitive and respectful.

How can I avoid making grammatical errors when talking about poverty?

Pay attention to the use of articles (a, an, the) and ensure that adjectives are correctly modifying nouns. When in doubt, opt for phrases like "among the needy" or "within a disadvantaged community", which are grammatically sound and widely accepted.