bad document

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bad document" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a document that is poorly written, contains errors, or is not suitable for its intended purpose. Example: "After reviewing the report, I realized it was a bad document that needed significant revisions before submission."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"There are some cases where a bad document is worse than no document," he said.

The New York Times

It's not a bad document, glossy and vaguely in line with that of the Royal Society.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Certainly the memo was a nothing," Trump said of the Democratic document, adding that it was a "confirmation" of the GOP memo. "That's a very bad document for their side," he added.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But you can always find, after the fact, "bad documents" that can be twisted to make something innocent sound nefarious.

The New York Times

Yes, there were "bad documents"— there are always bad documents — but most of them were a half a century old, as the science around lead was emerging in this country.

The New York Times

One of Mr. Ahmadinejad's closest aides, Ali Akbar Javanfekr, lashed out at the president's parliamentary rivals during an interview in Tehran last month, saying that the president's allies would crush them in the polls and that "we have many bad documents that implicate them, and we will make those documents public if necessary".

The New York Times

Major credit card companies like American Express, Discover and others are going to court to get customers to pay off their debts, but, amid a massive amount of bad loans, they're using bad documents and their records are often incomplete, The New York Times reports.

Huffington Post

"If it now turns out that was based on forged documents and bad intelligence, that's very disturbing".

The New York Times

Josh Howard tentatively decided that the National Guard story would replace an Ed Bradley report produced by one of the network's top investigators, David Gelber, which explored how the Bush Administration had used bad intelligence a document saying that Iraq was trying to get so-called yellow-cake uranium from Niger, to make an atom bomb to promote its case for an invasion of Iraq.

The New Yorker

That could be bad for document producers as well as consumers.

Forbes

This ensures that the applications will not generate any errors due to using a "bad" CML document as their input.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a document as "bad document", be specific about the nature of its flaws. Instead of just saying "it's a bad document", explain what makes it inadequate, such as factual errors, poor organization, or unclear language.

Common error

Avoid simply labeling a document as a "bad document" without providing specific reasons. This lacks constructive feedback and fails to identify areas for improvement. Providing details about what makes the document weak or inaccurate is crucial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad document" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "bad" modifies the noun "document". Ludwig AI confirms this is a correct and usable expression. It serves to describe and categorize a specific instance of a document.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bad document" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to negatively assess a document's quality or suitability. Ludwig AI confirms it as a correct expression. While its register is generally neutral, leaning towards informal, its usage spans across news media, science, and general communication. When using this phrase, it's best practice to provide specific reasons for the negative evaluation. Alternatives like "poorly written document" or "substandard document" can offer more nuanced descriptions of the document's flaws.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poorly written document

Focuses on the quality of writing within the document.

substandard document

Emphasizes that the document fails to meet a certain standard or expectation.

inadequate document

Highlights the document's lack of sufficiency for a specific purpose.

deficient document

Similar to inadequate, but can suggest a more fundamental lack.

flawed document

Emphasizes that the document contains errors or weaknesses.

defective document

Implies the document has inherent problems that make it unusable.

inferior document

Highlights a comparison to other documents, indicating lower quality.

unreliable document

Focuses on the trustworthiness and accuracy of the information.

invalid document

Indicates that the document is not legally or officially acceptable.

faulty document

Implies the document has defects or shortcomings.

FAQs

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

You can use "bad document" to describe a document that is poorly written, inaccurate, or unsuitable for its intended purpose. For example: "The report was a "bad document" due to numerous factual errors."

What are some alternatives to "bad document"?

Alternatives include "poorly written document", "substandard document", or "inaccurate document". The best choice depends on the specific issue with the document.

Is it always negative to describe something as a "bad document"?

Yes, the term "bad document" carries a negative connotation. It implies that the document has significant flaws that affect its usefulness or credibility.

What makes a document qualify as a "bad document"?

A document can be considered a "bad document" if it contains errors, is poorly organized, uses unclear language, lacks supporting evidence, or fails to meet the intended purpose or standards.