bad

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'bad' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is not good or of poor quality. For example, "The food at the restaurant was bad."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No deal is better than a bad deal.

The New York Times

But that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The New York Times

FIRST, the bad news.

The New York Times - Food

Bad luck?

The Economist

It's a bad thing.

The Economist

What happened four months ago is forgotten, whether that's good, bad or indifferent.

The Guardian - Sport

Not so bad.

The New York Times

"It was really bad.

The New York Times - Sports

Not bad.

The New York Times

That was bad.

The New York Times

"It makes the rest of us look bad".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "bad" in formal writing, ensure it aligns with the overall tone and doesn't sound overly informal. More sophisticated vocabulary may be appropriate.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "bad" in formal writing. Explore synonyms such as "unfavorable", "deficient", or "substandard" to add nuance and sophistication to your expression.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "bad" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate a negative or undesirable quality. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. For example, "bad deal", "bad luck", "bad news". It can also function as a noun meaning badness (e.g., "Sorry, my bad!").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bad" is a versatile adjective used to express negativity or poor quality, as validated by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically sound and appears frequently across various sources, especially in News & Media. While generally acceptable, more formal synonyms may be appropriate in specific contexts to add precision. When writing, be mindful of the level of formality required and use "bad" accordingly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not good

Focuses on the absence of positive qualities rather than directly stating negativity.

unfavorable

Emphasizes a lack of advantage or suitability.

poor

Highlights a deficiency in quality or condition.

terrible

Conveys a strong sense of unpleasantness or inferiority.

awful

Similar to "terrible", but can also imply a sense of fear or dread.

dreadful

Emphasizes a sense of intense dislike or aversion.

substandard

Indicates that something fails to meet a required level of quality.

deficient

Stresses a lack of something essential or necessary.

inferior

Indicates a lower rank or quality compared to something else.

unpleasant

Focuses on the disagreeable or displeasing nature of something.

FAQs

How can I use "bad" in a sentence?

"Bad" can be used to describe something of poor quality, unfavorable conditions, or negative experiences. For example, "The weather today is bad", or "That was a bad decision".

What are some alternatives to using "bad"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "not good", "unfavorable", "poor", or "terrible".

Is it grammatically correct to say "badly" instead of "bad"?

While "bad" is an adjective, "badly" is an adverb. You'd use "bad" to describe a noun (e.g., "a bad apple") and "badly" to describe a verb (e.g., "He performed badly").

When is it appropriate to use "bad" versus more formal vocabulary?

"Bad" is generally acceptable in most contexts. However, in formal or professional settings, consider using more precise and sophisticated alternatives such as "unfavorable", "substandard", or "deficient" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.