bad counsel

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bad counsel" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to poor advice or guidance given to someone, often in a legal or advisory context. Example: "The defendant acted on bad counsel, which ultimately led to his downfall in the case."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

'But he was given bad counsel.

The Guardian

"If you've got bad counsel, you're likely to be sentenced to death.

The New York Times

The epithet "unready" is derived from unraed, meaning "bad counsel" or "no counsel," and puns on his name, which means "noble counsel".

Encyclopedia Britannica

There already is talk that King Abdullah may replace the government, as a way of signaling that he received bad counsel on the war.

The New York Times

"We can't say if he got bad counsel," he said, "but if he did, is he entitled to a fair trial?

The New York Times

Although there are several records of his minor betrayals and instances of bad counsel, Eadric committed his most conspicuous act of treachery in 1015, when he sided with Canute against Edmund Ironside as Ethelred, Edmund's father, lay dying.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Our knee-jerk, and normal, reaction to learning about the nefarious use of an app to label it "bad" and then counsel our kids to delete it from their phones.

Huffington Post

He claimed that, growing up, he had been sickly, and struggled with bad asthma; Dianetics counselling had dramatically alleviated the symptoms.

The New Yorker

Running the risk of being contacted at work is bad form, she counsels.

Forbes

The roundtable heard how health staff use their "breaking bad news" training to counsel parents, leaving them with the impression that there's not much incentive to look forward to the future.

The Guardian

"They don't want to be seen as the bad wolf," says Greg Turner, counsel to the California Taxpayers Associationn.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "bad counsel", ensure the context clearly indicates who provided the advice and what negative consequences resulted from it.

Common error

Avoid using "bad counsel" as a vague accusation. Specify what made the counsel poor—was it factually incorrect, ethically dubious, or strategically flawed?

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad counsel" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to denote poor or detrimental advice. Ludwig examples demonstrate how the phrase can describe advice leading to negative outcomes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bad counsel" is a grammatically sound and comprehensible expression used to describe poor or detrimental advice. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's acceptable for use in formal writing. Predominantly found in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science sources, its purpose is to express disapproval of advice, often highlighting negative outcomes. While the phrase is not overly common, alternative expressions such as "poor advice" or "misguided advice" can be employed depending on the specific context. When using "bad counsel", ensure clarity regarding the source and consequences of the advice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poor advice

Replaces "counsel" with a more common synonym, focusing on the quality of the advice.

misguided advice

Emphasizes that the advice leads in the wrong direction or is based on faulty reasoning.

unwise guidance

Substitutes both words with synonyms, highlighting the lack of wisdom in the direction given.

faulty recommendations

Replaces "counsel" with "recommendations", suggesting a more formal context.

inappropriate direction

Focuses on the unsuitability of the guidance provided.

ill-advised recommendations

Highlights that the recommendations were not well thought out.

poor judgment

Shifts the focus from the advice itself to the poor decision-making behind it.

unprofessional advice

Adds a negative attribute (unprofessional) to the term advice.

terrible direction

Emphasizes the very poor quality of the guidance.

detrimental guidance

Highlights the harmful effects of the advice or direction.

FAQs

How can I use "bad counsel" in a sentence?

You can use "bad counsel" to indicate that someone received poor advice, as in "The company's failure was a direct result of the /s/poor+advice they received from their consultants." or "He made a series of mistakes due to /s/misguided+advice from his advisors."

What's the difference between "bad counsel" and "poor advice"?

While both terms refer to inadequate guidance, "bad counsel" often implies a more formal or professional setting, such as legal or strategic advice. "Poor advice" is a more general term. "Bad counsel" can highlight the advisor's specific liability and be used in a court setting, in some circumstances.

What can I say instead of "bad counsel"?

You can use alternatives like "poor advice", "misguided advice", or "unwise guidance" depending on the context.

Is "bad counsel" a formal or informal phrase?

"Bad counsel" sits in a neutral register, suitable for professional and formal contexts and can also be used in news reports or discussions about professional matters.