awful press

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "awful press" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe negative media coverage or criticism received by a person, organization, or event. Example: "The politician faced awful press after the scandal broke, leading to a significant drop in public support."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

It's hard to think of another female politician who, over the years, has earned as much awful press.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And this week, after several days of awful press about the school closings, Archbishop O'Malley agreed to meet the parents and reconsider their proposal.

The Economist

But it's still striking that most churchgoing Catholics and a large minority of more infrequent attenders identify (or at least want their pontiff to identify) more with tradition than with radical reform, and it's still noteworthy that Pope Benedict is viewed favorably by a huge majority of his flock despite all all the awful press he's received.

The New York Times

Once, the Duchess of York said to him: "Oh Denis, I do get an awful press, don't I?" He mimicked zipping his lips closed and replied: "Yes, ma'am: has it occurred to you to keep your mouth shut?" His family were colonials, hailing from Wanganui, a coastal town in New Zealand, where there is a street named after them.

The Guardian

When the Duchess of York remarked to him, "Oh Denis, I do get an awful press, don't I?" he mimicked doing up a zip fastener across his lips and replied, "Yes, ma'am, has it occurred to you to keep your mouth shut?" Denis Thatcher's family hailed from Wanganui, a coastal town in New Zealand, where there is a street named after them.

The Guardian

After months of awful press and the worst PR shit storm we've seen in years, Samsung is ready to give its smartphone line a new messiah.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

It may have an awful website (press officers at the body have an incredible ability to memorise urls, which is often simpler than just trying to find the data), but it is truly independent.

The Guardian

Even before his brutal conduct in the referendum campaign, Freedom House's Freedom in the World 2017 survey rated Turkey Not Free: bad on political rights, worse on civil liberties, and awful on press freedom.

Huffington Post

And God was ready; foretelling Julia Ward Howe's famous lines, "that awful wine-press of the Wrath of Almighty God" would come down from the heavens and bury the South.

The New York Times

She married Macfadyen in 2004 and they have since had a daughter, Maggie, but at the time, it was an unholy (very public) mess and Hawes doesn't appear to have done an awful lot of press since.

The Guardian - Film

Or, as the same poet goes on, "when awful old age pressed down upon him, she put him away in an inner room of the house and shut the shining doors".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "awful press" to describe situations where the media coverage is not only negative but also particularly harsh or damaging to the subject.

Common error

Avoid using "awful press" when simply referring to bad news. "Awful press" specifically indicates negative coverage by news outlets, not just any unfortunate event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awful press" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "awful" modifies the noun "press". It describes the quality or nature of the media coverage. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English, denoting negative media coverage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "awful press" accurately describes situations involving notably negative media coverage. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and functions as a noun phrase where "awful" modifies "press". While less frequent than similar terms like ""bad press"" or ""negative publicity"", it emphasizes the severity of the negative attention. Predominantly used in news and media contexts, it denotes damaging publicity. When writing, it's best to reserve "awful press" for instances where the media coverage is exceptionally harsh, and to avoid using it simply as a synonym for bad news in general.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negative publicity

Focuses on the public perception being unfavorable, rather than just the press coverage.

bad press

A more concise and common alternative, directly indicating unfavorable coverage.

unfavorable media coverage

More formal and descriptive, specifying the type of coverage and its negativity.

negative media attention

Similar to negative publicity, but emphasizes the attention received.

poor media reviews

Highlights negative critiques from media outlets.

damaging press

Emphasizes the harmful impact of the press coverage.

scathing media reports

Focuses on the harsh and critical nature of the media reports.

adverse press

A more formal way to describe negative press coverage.

hostile media

Indicates an antagonistic relationship or bias in the coverage.

critical media

Highlights the critical stance taken by the media.

FAQs

What does "awful press" mean?

"Awful press" refers to significantly negative or damaging coverage by news media, implying strong criticism or unfavorable reporting.

What are some alternatives to "awful press"?

Alternatives include "negative publicity", "bad press", or "unfavorable media coverage", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "awful press" in a sentence?

Yes, "awful press" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English, particularly in journalistic and formal contexts.

How is "awful press" different from "bad press"?

"Awful press" suggests a more intense and potentially damaging level of negative coverage compared to the more general term "bad press". While both indicate unfavorable reporting, "awful" emphasizes the severity.