awful time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "awful time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe a period of time that is unpleasant or difficult. For example, "The family had an awful time after they lost their house in the storm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An awful time".

The Guardian - Books

People have an awful time".

The Guardian - Film

We had an awful time".

The New York Times - Magazine

The Russians had a bloody awful time.

The Guardian

It must have been an awful time?

The Guardian - Books

"I had an awful time," she says.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

We went through an awful time".

The New York Times - Sports

Thinking of all their families at this awful time".

Independent

"It's an awful time for everyone," she added.

The New York Times

Back then, he tried to shoulder the blame: "Obviously, this is an awful time, an awful time.

The New York Times - Sports

This morning she told EducationGuardian.co.uk: "I've had an awful time.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a particularly negative experience, consider using synonyms for "awful" to convey nuances in severity, such as "horrendous", "terrible", or "dreadful".

Common error

Avoid using "awful time" as a generic descriptor without providing specific details about what made the time period unpleasant. Adding context enhances clarity and impact. For example, instead of saying "We had an awful time", specify "We had an awful time dealing with the storm damage and power outage".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awful time" functions as a noun phrase, where "awful" modifies the noun "time". It describes a period or duration characterized by negative experiences or unpleasant circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in describing unfortunate situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "awful time" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a period marked by negative experiences. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It's widely used across various contexts, from news reports to academic discussions, with a neutral tone that makes it suitable for diverse audiences. While the phrase is well-established, writers should provide specific details about the "awful time" to enhance clarity and impact. Consider related phrases like "terrible experience" or "difficult phase" for variety, depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Terrible experience

Replaces "time" with "experience", focusing on the subjective feeling during the period.

Horrendous period

Substitutes "awful" with "horrendous" to intensify the negativity, and replaces "time" with "period".

Difficult phase

Replaces "awful" with "difficult" to soften the negative connotation, and replaces "time" with "phase".

Trying ordeal

Uses "trying" to indicate a challenging experience and replaces "time" with "ordeal" to emphasize the difficulty.

Nightmarish situation

Replaces "awful" with "nightmarish" to highlight the extremely unpleasant nature and replaces "time" with "situation".

Unpleasant chapter

Replaces "awful" with "unpleasant", softening the negativity, and replaces "time" with "chapter" to frame it as a part of a larger narrative.

Rough patch

Uses "rough" to describe the difficulty and replaces "time" with "patch", indicating a specific period of trouble.

Challenging moment

Replaces "awful" with "challenging" to lessen the negativity, focusing on the difficulty and replaces "time" with "moment".

Regrettable episode

Replaces "awful" with "regrettable" to express remorse and replaces "time" with "episode" to denote a specific event.

Unfavorable circumstances

Uses more formal language to describe the negative situation, replacing "awful" and "time" with more abstract terms.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "awful time"?

You can use alternatives like "terrible experience", "horrendous period", or "difficult phase" depending on the context.

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

You can use "awful time" to describe a period filled with negative experiences. For example, "She had an awful time during the recession" or "They went through an awful time after the accident".

Which is correct, "awful time" or "awful timing"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings. "Awful time" refers to a bad experience during a period, while "awful timing" refers to something happening at a particularly unfortunate moment.

Is "awful time" considered formal or informal?

"Awful time" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "challenging period" may be preferred in professional settings.