awful experience

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "awful experience" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a negative or unpleasant event or situation that someone has gone through. Example: "The trip turned into an awful experience when our flight was canceled and we were stranded at the airport for hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was an awful experience.

Independent

It was just an awful experience.

The Guardian

"I had an awful experience with it!

The New York Times - Tech

The dying must be especially prepared for the awful experience.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And playing Truman Capote badly is an awful experience.

The Guardian - Film

I've never found prison to be an awful experience.

The Guardian

"It was an awful experience," Mr. Busch said.

The New York Times

However for us, the trial has been an awful experience.

The Guardian

He recounted his time in solitary confinement as the most awful experience of his life.

The New York Times

Marco Polo is so innocuous that you're not going to have an awful experience with it.

The Guardian

Friends of hers have had images circulated without their consent; it was an "awful experience".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an event as an "awful experience", provide specific details to illustrate why it was so negative. This adds credibility and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something was an "awful experience" without providing any supporting information. Readers need to understand the reasons behind your assessment to fully appreciate the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awful experience" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "awful" modifies the noun "experience". It serves to describe an event or situation that was extremely unpleasant or negative. Ludwig examples show it used to describe a range of situations from personal interactions to larger life events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "awful experience" is a common way to describe something very unpleasant. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts, as well as in scientific and business publications. When using "awful experience", be sure to provide specific details to give context to the user. Alternatives like "terrible experience" or "horrible experience" can be used for similar effect, depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terrible experience

Replaces "awful" with "terrible", indicating a high degree of unpleasantness.

horrible experience

Substitutes "awful" with "horrible", emphasizing the shocking or dreadful nature of the experience.

dreadful experience

Uses "dreadful" instead of "awful", suggesting a sense of fear or apprehension in addition to unpleasantness.

unpleasant experience

A milder term that focuses on the lack of enjoyment or comfort.

negative experience

A broader term that covers any experience with undesirable outcomes or feelings.

disagreeable experience

Similar to "unpleasant", but perhaps a bit stronger in its disapproval.

distressing experience

Emphasizes the anxiety and worry caused by the experience.

traumatic experience

Highlights the deeply distressing or disturbing nature of the experience, potentially leading to lasting psychological effects.

painful experience

Focuses on the emotional or physical suffering involved.

unfortunate experience

Suggests bad luck or circumstances contributed to the negative nature of the experience.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "awful experience"?

You can use alternatives like "terrible experience", "horrible experience", or "negative experience" depending on the context.

How do I use "awful experience" in a sentence?

You can say, "The concert was an "awful experience" because the sound system failed." or "Dealing with the customer service was an "awful experience"."

Is it okay to use "awful experience" in formal writing?

While acceptable, in more formal contexts, consider stronger or more descriptive alternatives such as "traumatic experience" or "dreadful experience" to convey a more precise meaning.

What makes an experience qualify as an "awful experience"?

An "awful experience" typically involves a combination of negative factors, such as extreme discomfort, disappointment, stress, or even trauma. It suggests a significantly unpleasant or undesirable event.