awfully sad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "awfully sad" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an informal phrase that expresses a strong feeling of sadness. Example sentence: "It was awfully sad to see the family's home destroyed in the tornado."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

That seems awfully sad.

The Guardian - Music

But I think it's awfully, awfully sad".

The New York Times

It's awfully sad when things change, but I don't think they can change it very much.

The Guardian

"That theater's going to be absolutely fine," Ms. Lord said, adding, "I'm awfully sad about this rift".

The New York Times

You may read The Year Of The Rat by Clare Furniss and decide it's an awfully sad book that shouldn't be touched by anyone under the age of 18.

The Guardian

E-mail address GO SIGN UP Share Tweet It's an awfully sad story, especially for those of us who have often dreamt of belonging to such a collective ourselves, but while we mourn the loss of one ladies-only bookstore, why not show our support by seeking out others?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

The way Wambaugh tells his politically incorrect tale, if it weren't so terribly sad, it would be awfully funny.

The New York Times - Books

Like the whole film, it leaves one feeling (as one of the girls says) awfully happy in a sad way.

The New York Times

When he's funny, he's awfully funny; when he's sad or in physical pain, he's something short of believable.

The New York Times

This is an awfully downbeat bunch for a group of cartoons, so the favorite has to be the only one that isn't sad or depressing: Pixar's Sanjay's Super Team.

Huffington Post

Awfully wrong".

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation or event, consider using "awfully sad" to highlight the depth of negative emotions associated with it, making your writing more evocative and impactful.

Common error

While "awfully sad" effectively conveys emotion, it might seem less appropriate in formal documents or academic papers. Instead, opt for more formal alternatives like "deeply saddened" or "profoundly sad" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awfully sad" functions as an adverbial intensifier modifying an adjective. It amplifies the degree of sadness, indicating a strong feeling of sorrow. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

18%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "awfully sad" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey a strong sense of sorrow or disappointment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s appropriate for various contexts, but particularly effective in informal settings. While sources like The New York Times and The Guardian use it, remember to consider your audience and the formality of the writing. More formal alternatives include "deeply saddened" or "profoundly sad". Use "awfully sad" to add emotional depth, but remain aware of its register to avoid inappropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terribly sad

Changes the intensifier to 'terribly', offering a synonym that conveys a high degree of sadness.

extremely sad

Replaces 'awfully' with 'extremely', another common intensifier implying a significant degree of sadness.

incredibly sad

Substitutes 'awfully' with 'incredibly', emphasizing the surprising or unbelievable aspect of the sadness.

very sad

Uses a simpler intensifier, 'very', to express a notable degree of sadness without the added emphasis of 'awfully'.

profoundly sad

Replaces 'awfully' with 'profoundly', suggesting a deep and significant level of sadness.

deeply saddened

Shifts the structure to a passive voice, focusing on the state of being affected by sadness.

crushingly sad

Implies that the sadness is overwhelming or devastating.

bitterly sad

Adds a connotation of resentment or disappointment to the sadness.

unbearably sad

Suggests that the sadness is so intense that it is difficult to cope with.

heartbreaking

Changes the phrase to an adjective describing something that causes intense sadness or grief.

FAQs

How can I use "awfully sad" in a sentence?

You can use "awfully sad" to describe a situation or feeling, such as "It's awfully sad that they had to cancel the event" or "I felt awfully sad when I heard the news".

What can I say instead of "awfully sad"?

You can use alternatives like "terribly sad", "extremely sad", or "deeply saddened" depending on the context.

Is "awfully sad" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "awfully sad" is generally considered informal. For formal writing, consider alternatives such as "profoundly sad" or "deeply saddened".

What makes "awfully sad" different from "very sad"?

"Awfully" intensifies the feeling of sadness more strongly than "very". "Awfully sad" suggests a deeper, more profound sense of sorrow or disappointment than simply "very sad".