appalling news

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appalling news" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe information that is shocking, disturbing, or extremely bad. Example: "The appalling news of the natural disaster left the entire community in shock and mourning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Appalling news.

The Guardian

It's pretty appalling news.

The Guardian - Opinion

That challenge came into focus this week with some appalling news about the once mighty service.

The Guardian

Pain on faces when he delivers the appalling news that 41 lives could have been saved.

The Guardian - Sport

In a message to Mr Forsyth, the Queen said she was "deeply shocked by the appalling news from Dunblane".

The Guardian

I was in the process of booking a flight for this Friday when I got the appalling news".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

DAILY doses of appalling financial news have focused attention on quick fixes and emergency saves.

The Economist

There was equally appalling financial news for Fantastic Four, 2oth Century Fox's abortive attempt to reboot the Marvel Comics superhero quartet.

The Guardian - Film

"To see the martyrdom of the Imperial Family treated as a piece of gory entertainment" — especially in the year of the 100th anniversary of their death — "was appalling," the news release said.

The New York Times - Arts

Despite parallels with appalling real-life news stories, Room is neither a horror movie nor a film about crime and/or captivity.

The Guardian - Film

The Internet coverage has been appalling: a major news Web site posted a picture of a handsome young man and invited readers to view a slide show to "see the faces of the young people who died in Santa Maria" in the same way it has presented slide shows like "check out the hotties at Ipanema beach".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience when using "appalling news". In formal settings, it may be more appropriate to use slightly less emotive language like "deeply concerning developments".

Common error

Avoid using "appalling news" for situations that are merely inconvenient or slightly negative. This can diminish the impact when you need to describe truly shocking events. Reserve it for situations causing significant distress or moral outrage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appalling news" functions primarily as a descriptor. The adjective "appalling" modifies the noun "news", indicating that the news is extremely bad, shocking, or disturbing. Ludwig confirms this as perfectly usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "appalling news" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase to describe profoundly negative information. The phrase functions as a descriptor, conveying a sense of shock or dismay and is frequently found in journalistic contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is perfectly acceptable for describing information that is shocking, disturbing, or extremely bad. While generally neutral in register, writers should use it judiciously, reserving it for contexts where the news truly warrants such a strong descriptor to avoid diluting its impact. Alternatives like "shocking news" or "dreadful tidings" may be suitable depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grim report

A more concise way of conveying the negative and disheartening nature of the information.

horrific information

Substitutes "appalling" and "news" with synonyms that highlight the horrifying aspect of the information.

tragic intelligence

Emphasizes the tragic and serious nature of the information.

dreadful tidings

Replaces "news" with a more formal and archaic term, "tidings," emphasizing the severity.

awful reports

Uses a simpler synonym for "appalling" and a slightly different term for "news".

shocking revelations

Changes the focus to the act of revealing shocking details, rather than just the news itself.

terrible developments

Replaces both words with more general terms indicating negative events.

distressing updates

Focuses on the emotional impact of the news being shared, making it a "distressing" experience.

calamitous announcement

Replaces both words with more dramatic and emphatic terms.

heartbreaking story

Focuses on the emotional impact of the "news", presenting it as a narrative that causes sorrow.

FAQs

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

You can use "appalling news" to describe information that is shocking, disturbing, or extremely bad. For example: "The "appalling news" of the natural disaster left the entire community in shock".

What can I say instead of "appalling news"?

Alternatives include "shocking news", "terrible news", or "dreadful tidings depending on the context".

Is "appalling news" formal or informal?

"Appalling news" is generally considered neutral in tone, suitable for both news reports and general conversation. More formal alternatives may exist for professional communications.

What makes "appalling news" different from "bad news"?

"Appalling news" suggests a higher degree of shock, horror, or moral outrage than simple "bad news". It implies that the information is not just unfortunate, but deeply disturbing.