are kept poorly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are kept poorly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the inadequate or substandard maintenance or management of something. Example: "The records of the organization are kept poorly, leading to confusion and inefficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Secrets are kept poorly and gossip spreads quickly.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They are kept in many poorly guarded X-ray and cancer-treatment clinics.

The Economist

In healthy individuals, bone formation and resorption are kept in long-term balance by poorly understood coupling mechanisms.

Breast Cancer Research

Animals were kept in cramped, poorly lit and poorly heated enclosures, fed improperly and left unattended, according to watchdogs.

Huffington Post

Pointing to thousands of newspaper clippings that had been kept in crumbling and poorly organized scrapbooks, Ms. Scheir added, "You would open them up and find this mountain of flakes on your feet".

The New York Times

They admitted themselves after feeling unwell and although two were discharged shortly after, the other was "quite poorly" and was kept in for treatment.

BBC

I know a first grader whose parents were informed early in the school year that he would be kept back because he read too poorly.

The New York Times

You can take some of the bonus, but the rest is kept back in case you perform poorly in subsequent years.

The Guardian

In this poorly shot, sloppily assembled film, the court sequences are so inept they're kept to a minimum.

The New York Times

This model predicts that investors are more likely to keep poorly performing SR mutual funds than conventional funds, as they get non-financial benefits.

Business Research

Registers are poorly kept and there is no endeavour to ensure that drugs are always swallowed.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing how records, data, or information is managed, use "are kept poorly" to convey that the organization or maintenance is substandard and could lead to problems.

Common error

While both "poorly kept" and "badly kept" are acceptable, "poorly kept" is more common when describing systems or records. "Badly kept" might be more appropriate when describing something actively damaged or mistreated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are kept poorly" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something is subjected to inadequate maintenance or management. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct. It suggests a deficiency in the way something is being maintained or managed, leading to a substandard condition.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Reference

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are kept poorly" is a grammatically correct, though rare, expression used to describe inadequate maintenance or management. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical acceptability. While it can appear in various contexts, it's more frequently found in news and media or scientific writing. For more formal settings, alternatives like "are maintained inadequately" might be preferred. Remember to consider the context and audience when using this phrase to ensure clarity and appropriateness. Pay attention to potential confusion with similar phrases like "badly kept" and always ensure accurate and clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are maintained inadequately

Replaces "kept" with "maintained" and "poorly" with "inadequately", focusing on the act of maintaining.

are badly managed

Substitutes "kept" with "managed" and "poorly" with "badly", emphasizing management quality.

are inadequately preserved

Replaces "kept" with "preserved" and "poorly" with "inadequately", highlighting preservation efforts.

are shoddily maintained

Uses "shoddily" instead of "poorly" to describe the quality of maintenance.

are negligently kept

Emphasizes negligence in the act of keeping something.

are carelessly handled

Focuses on the lack of care in handling something, instead of keeping.

are substandardly stored

Highlights the substandard quality of storage.

are improperly looked after

Uses the phrasal verb "looked after" to replace "kept", implying a lack of proper care.

are deficiently cared for

Highlights the deficiency in the care provided.

are wretchedly preserved

Emphasizes the extremely poor quality of preservation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "are kept poorly" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "are maintained inadequately" or "are badly managed", which offer a more professional feel.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "are kept poorly"?

Use "are kept poorly" when you want to emphasize that something is not being maintained or managed to an acceptable standard, potentially leading to negative consequences.

What's the difference between "are kept poorly" and "are poorly maintained"?

While similar, "are kept poorly" focuses more on the act of keeping or managing, whereas "are poorly maintained" emphasizes the active process of maintenance being substandard. The phrase "are poorly maintained" is closer to the meaning.

Are there specific contexts where "are kept poorly" is more commonly used?

The phrase "are kept poorly" can be applied to contexts such as record-keeping, data management, or the storage of physical items where the current practices are inadequate or deficient.