appalling television

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "appalling television" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe television shows or programs that are considered to be of very poor quality or offensive in some way. Example: "After watching the latest reality show, I couldn't help but think that it was truly appalling television."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The foul-mouthed, six-figure-salaried debacle magnet (remember how he was censured by Ofcom earlier this year for condoning negative stereotypes of gay people? Recall the panning Channel 4's Moyles' Quiz Night received?) told his BBC Radio 1 listeners that Totally Saturday is "appalling television".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

There are memoirs on the best-seller list, revelations of appalling intimacy on television.

The New York Times

"Appalling," Time's television critic, James Poniewozik, tweeted.

Huffington Post

The appalling scenes on the television last week should not be used as an excuse to slow down the empowerment of service users through the growth of individual choice and purchasing of services.

The Guardian

On April 16th Margaret Hayward, a nurse, was struck off the register of recognised nurses by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) after she smuggled a camera into a Brighton hospital to expose on television the appalling standard of patient care on one of the wards.

The Economist

Everyone who watches it compulsively admits it's ridiculous; the shabbiest exercise in pointless and politically appalling manipulation currently on television, and everyone who watches it gets choked up at least once an episode.

Vice

Dogs have been getting quite a bad reputation recently - they kill children, they have television programmes dedicated to their appalling behaviour, they destroy teddy bears.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. Pacino stars as the "60 Minutes" producer who puts some appalling truths about the tobacco industry on national television.

The New York Times

That won't be for lack of trying on A.J.E.'s part — and on the part of some Americans who watched its coverage and now find it appalling that the channel isn't available on television.

The New Yorker

Russian television said virtually nothing of the appalling events through the entire day.

Forbes

One area the television networks should address immediately is the appalling lack of poppies worn in repeated programmes.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "appalling television", ensure that the context clearly conveys the negative attributes of the television programming, such as poor production quality, offensive content, or lack of entertainment value. Support your claim with specific examples or reasoning to enhance the impact and credibility of your statement.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something is "appalling television" without explaining why. Provide specific examples or details about what makes the television programming so bad to avoid sounding vague or unsubstantiated. The impact is significantly weaker without supporting details.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appalling television" functions as a descriptive phrase, where the adjective "appalling" modifies the noun "television". According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "appalling television" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express strong disapproval of television programming quality. According to Ludwig, the expression is valid and usable. Although not very frequent, its usage is primarily found in News & Media sources. For alternatives, consider "terrible television" or "atrocious television". When using this phrase, ensure to provide specific context to explain what makes the television "appalling" to enhance the impact of your statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terrible television

Replaces "appalling" with a more common synonym, "terrible", while maintaining the same structure.

appallingly bad television

Emphasizes the adverb of the word appalling, intensifying the poor quality of the television.

awful television programming

Substitutes "appalling" with "awful" and adds "programming" to clarify the subject.

atrocious television

Uses "atrocious", a stronger synonym for "appalling", to emphasize the poor quality.

dreadful television

Replaces "appalling" with "dreadful", indicating a lower quality or unpleasant experience.

poor quality television

Uses a more literal description, focusing on the "poor quality" of the television.

low-quality television shows

Expands on the phrase, specifying "low-quality television shows" instead of just "television".

shockingly bad television

Adds the adverb "shockingly" to emphasize how bad the television is.

offensively bad television

Focuses on the offensive nature of the poor television content, which can be an alternative meaning.

unwatchable television

Emphasizes that the television is so bad it's simply "unwatchable".

FAQs

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

You can use "appalling television" to describe a show or program that you find to be of very poor quality. For example, "The reality show was truly "appalling television", filled with manufactured drama and uninteresting characters."

What's a good alternative to "appalling television"?

Alternatives include "terrible television", "awful television programming", or "atrocious television", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What makes television "appalling"?

Television can be considered "appalling" due to various factors, such as poor acting, a nonsensical plot, offensive content, low production values, or a general lack of entertainment value. It signifies a strong negative reaction to the quality of the program.

Is "appalling television" a formal or informal expression?

"Appalling television" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it leans slightly towards informal due to the strong negative connotation of "appalling". In formal settings, consider alternatives like "poor quality television" or "substandard programming".