Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

bad existing

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bad existing" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe something that is poorly established or not functioning well, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The bad existing conditions in the project led to numerous delays and frustrations."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In addition to offering a bevy of options from leather to fluoroelastomer to link bracelets to Milanese, it is here that you really see how much attention Apple was paying to the way people wear watches, and the how bad existing options were.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A.Depending on how bad your existing bathroom looks, making a few affordable updates might pay off.

News & Media

The New York Times

As the team built that service, though, it realized how bad the existing location data was.

News & Media

TechCrunch

According to him, the bads of existing (e.g., pains) are real disadvantages relative to not existing, while the goods of existing (pleasures) are not real advantages relative to not existing, since there is in the latter state no one to be deprived of them.

Science

SEP

Turning to economics, Britain is structurally and cyclically out of step with the euro-zone: joining now would be bad for Britain and, please note, bad for the existing members, which are in enough trouble already.

News & Media

The Economist

To suppress the effect of bad measurements on the estimation value of WLS or FDSE, the largest normal residual (LNR) test [1] or other BD identification approaches based on residual [6, 7] are always used to detect and identify any existing bad measurements, but these methods cannot effectively identify conforming bad measurements and leverage bad measurements [1].

Startups are stressful, bad for your physical and mental health and often bad for your existing and new interpersonal relationships.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Nobody Dies Anymore is a childish daydream about things being here for ever, partly inspired by something my son said after 9/11: "If everybody didn't die then bad people would live forever and eventually there would be a lot of bad people all existing at once".

While China still has to deal with its existing bad debts, the next wave is already being created.

News & Media

The Economist

Well-targeted aid can help to change that situation; the poorly targeted kind can simply reinforce existing bad practice.

News & Media

The Economist

The site operates on a Wikipedia-like format and invites users to create pages for athletes not listed and add missing links (or correct bad ones) on existing pages.

News & Media

The New York Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something negative that already exists, use more precise and common alternatives like "poor current", "substandard existing", or "faulty current" to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using the direct combination of "bad" and "existing" because it can sound awkward. Instead, consider what specific aspect is "bad" (e.g., quality, functionality) and use a more descriptive adjective.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad existing" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase, attempting to describe a state or condition that is both negative and already in place. However, according to Ludwig AI, this combination is not grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "bad existing" is understandable, it's not considered grammatically correct. Ludwig AI analysis reveals that it's better to opt for more precise and idiomatic alternatives, such as "poor current", "substandard existing", or "faulty current", to clearly communicate the intended meaning. The phrase appears in news, scientific, and wiki contexts, but its relative infrequency suggests that more common alternatives should be favored. To improve clarity and style, specify the nature of what is "bad" rather than using the direct combination.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "bad existing"?

Instead of "bad existing", you can use phrases like "poor current", "substandard existing", or "faulty current" depending on the context.

Is "bad existing" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "bad existing" is not the most natural or grammatically polished phrasing. It's better to use more descriptive and common alternatives to improve clarity and style.

How can I use more descriptive language instead of "bad existing"?

Consider what makes the existing thing "bad". Is it of poor quality? Then use "poor quality". Is it not functioning correctly? Use "dysfunctional". Specificity enhances clarity.

What is the difference between "bad existing conditions" and "poor current conditions"?

"Bad existing conditions" is less common and can sound awkward. "Poor current conditions" is more idiomatic and generally preferred for its naturalness and clarity.

ChatGPT power + Grammarly precisionChatGPT power + Grammarly precision
ChatGPT + Grammarly

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: