at distress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at distress" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a state of being in distress, but the phrasing is awkward and not standard. Example: "The ship was at distress during the storm." (This would be better phrased as "in distress.")

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"But if the prices of these assets will recover over the next year or so, if they don't have to sell at distress prices, the banks could have a new lease on life by giving them some time".

The New York Times

Anyone entering the argument should read the adjudication in full, the original article by Jan Moir and the followup in which she expressed sorrow at distress caused "by the insensitive timing of the column, published so close to the funeral".

The Guardian

Well capitalized new players bought assets at distress prices and stopped the bleeding.

Forbes

The banks shut off credit to the hedge funds, forcing them to liquidate assets at distress prices.

Forbes

Betting on the direction of interest rates, many hedge funds had loaded up on Firstplus' paper; when the flight to quality swept the market the hedge funds and other speculators had to liquidate their high-yielding paper at distress prices.

Forbes

Related to that problem is the fact that these assets are hard to turn into cash quickly, causing either pressured private sales or, occasionally, the need to sell other publicly traded assets at distress prices not because it is wise to do so but simply because they can be sold.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

105 It is also possible that interventions aimed at relieving distress conducted at different phases in treatment may obtain different psychological outcome results.

BMJ Open

I tell her how uncomfortable the images were to look at, her distress plain.

The Guardian - Music

Most other lenders would have sold the trailer to a mobile home dealer at a distress price, recognizing a loss.

Forbes

In fact, OccupySandy was at the distress site even before the Red Cross and FEMA.

Huffington Post

Symptomatic sleep patterns did predict distress at age 57, but were also predicted by distress at age 36, so the link may be associative rather than causal.

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "at distress". Instead, use the correct and more common phrase "in distress".

Common error

The most common mistake is using the preposition "at" instead of "in" with the noun "distress". Always remember that the correct expression is "in distress".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at distress" functions as a prepositional phrase, although it's considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates the correct form is "in distress". Its attempted function is to describe a state of being.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

31%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "at distress" appears in some sources, it's considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests the correct and preferred phrasing is "in distress". Its intended meaning relates to experiencing trouble or suffering. To avoid errors, always use "in distress" for clear and correct communication. Although it can be found in news and media, its incorrect nature diminishes its suitability for formal writing. Always opt for "in distress" or other suitable alternatives to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in distress

This is the correct and most common way to express the state of being in trouble or suffering.

experiencing distress

Focuses on the act of undergoing distress, emphasizing the process.

under duress

Implies coercion or pressure that causes distress.

in trouble

A more general term indicating a problematic situation.

suffering

Highlights the pain or hardship being endured.

in crisis

Signifies a critical or unstable situation.

in difficulty

Indicates a state of hardship or challenge.

in a predicament

Suggests a tricky or awkward situation.

under pressure

Emphasizes the stress and strain being experienced.

in hardship

Highlights the difficult conditions being faced.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say someone is suffering?

The correct way to describe someone who is suffering is to say they are "in distress".

Is it grammatically correct to say "at distress"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The correct preposition to use with "distress" in this context is "in", not "at".

What can I say instead of "at distress"?

Use the phrase "in distress". Other alternatives include "experiencing distress" or "under duress" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "at distress" and "in distress"?

"At distress" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "in distress", which means experiencing trouble or suffering.