appalling effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appalling effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a performance or attempt that is shockingly poor or disappointing. Example: "The team's appalling effort in the final match led to their elimination from the tournament."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Cook, continuing to look in fine fettle, leans over to the off and clips three runs to deep backward square, where Baker redeems his appalling efforts of two overs ago by diving to save a single.

The Guardian - Sport

The way family carers are treated is appalling; their efforts taken for granted, the expectation that they will undertake any and all tasks, from giving injections to changing incontinence pads.

The Guardian

However, there is an appalling lack of effort given to systematic attempts at building improvements into this age-old process.

Harvard Business Review

"The 4x4 was appalling, no real effort, unforgiveable really, and of course we expected an athlete in the 800m final for women," said Van Commenee.

BBC

Worse, we seem to think that it is appropriate to hire folks with such dubious credentials and qualifications as former FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] head Michael Brown and then we are surprised when our response to an emergency is slow, the contingency plans nonexistent and the actual effort appalling.

Forbes

The 4x4 was appalling, with no real effort.

The Guardian - Sport

The hounding of the outspoken tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky was an appalling and largely successful effort to warn Russia's wealthiest not to kid themselves that money entitled them to free speech.

The New York Times

Everywhere there is an appalling loss of time, effort and life.

TechCrunch

It was something I didn't realise at first as I was too busy being disappointed at my absolutely appalling clean-and-jerk effort, but I perked up when I looked at the scoreboard".

BBC

He blooters an appalling effort straight into the bank.

The Guardian - Sport

Despite these appalling abuses, and the efforts of a number of journalists and organisations – including a UN human rights panel and US senators Marco Rubio and Chris Smith – the world remains largely unaware of this crisis or is unwilling to speak out about it for fear of possible political or economic consequences.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "appalling effort", ensure the context clearly demonstrates a significant failure or inadequacy. The term is strong and should be reserved for situations where the effort truly warrants such a negative assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "appalling effort" to describe minor setbacks or imperfections. Overusing such strong language can dilute its impact and make your writing seem hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appalling effort" functions as a descriptive expression, modifying the noun "effort" with the adjective "appalling". This indicates the effort was extremely poor or inadequate. Ludwig identifies this as a valid expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

8%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "appalling effort" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe an attempt or undertaking marked by extreme inadequacy or poor quality. Ludwig confirms its validity and highlights its usage in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While effective for conveying strong disapproval, it's advisable to use the phrase judiciously, especially in formal settings, where more neutral alternatives might be more appropriate. Consider related phrases like "terrible effort" or "shocking effort" for similar but slightly less intense expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terrible effort

Replaces "appalling" with a more common synonym, "terrible", maintaining the same overall meaning.

shocking effort

Substitutes "appalling" with "shocking", emphasizing the unexpected and negative nature of the effort.

dreadful attempt

Uses "dreadful" instead of "appalling" and "attempt" instead of "effort", slightly altering the tone but preserving the core meaning.

atrocious performance

Replaces both words with synonyms that convey a stronger sense of failure and incompetence.

awful endeavor

Substitutes "appalling" with "awful" and "effort" with "endeavor", offering a more formal alternative.

poor showing

Uses a more idiomatic expression to indicate a lack of success or quality.

lamentable performance

Employs more formal and sophisticated vocabulary to express disappointment with the effort.

woeful undertaking

Replaces "appalling" with "woeful", highlighting the sorrowful or regrettable nature of the effort.

pathetic attempt

Uses "pathetic" to describe the effort, emphasizing its inadequacy and weakness.

substandard work

Shifts the focus to the quality of the work itself, implying that it falls below acceptable standards.

FAQs

What does "appalling effort" mean?

The phrase "appalling effort" describes an attempt or undertaking characterized by extreme inadequacy, poor quality, or causing shock and dismay due to its substandard nature.

What can I say instead of "appalling effort"?

You can use alternatives like "terrible effort", "shocking effort", or "atrocious performance" to express a similar sentiment.

Is it appropriate to use "appalling effort" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "appalling effort" carries a strong negative connotation. In formal writing, consider using less emotive alternatives like "substandard work" or "inadequate attempt" for a more professional tone.

How can I use "appalling effort" in a sentence?

You might say, "The team's "appalling effort" during the championship game resulted in a significant loss" or "The student's "appalling effort" on the final exam led to failing the course".