bad experience

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bad experience" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to describe a negative experience someone has had. For example, "My first day at work was a bad experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's a bad experience".

The New York Times - Travel

But it was a pretty bad experience.

The Economist

Did she have a bad experience?

The New York Times

I really didn't have a bad experience.

The Guardian - Film

It was such a bad experience".

The New York Times

"So, one more bad experience," he said.

The New York Times

After a bad experience, she stopped.

The Guardian

"It was a really bad experience".

The New York Times

I had no bad experience with him.

The New York Times - Sports

"I don't want to call it a bad experience because it is not a bad experience.

The Guardian - Sport

"Poor judgment leads to bad experience," he says, "and bad experience leads to good judgment".

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a "bad experience", be specific about what made it negative to provide context and clarity.

Common error

Avoid simply stating "it was a bad experience" without providing details. This lacks informative value. Instead, explain the specific reasons and aspects that made the experience negative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad experience" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "bad" modifies the noun "experience". Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where it acts as the subject or object of a sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bad experience" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a negative event or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, providing specifics about the experience makes it more impactful. Consider alternatives such as "negative experience" or "unfavorable experience" depending on the desired level of formality. Avoid simply stating that something was a "bad experience" without offering details to enhance clarity and avoid generic language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negative experience

Replaces "bad" with a synonym, "negative", maintaining the same meaning.

unpleasant experience

Substitutes "bad" with "unpleasant", emphasizing the disagreeable nature of the experience.

poor experience

Uses "poor" instead of "bad", highlighting the low quality of the experience.

terrible experience

Replaces "bad" with "terrible", intensifying the negativity of the experience.

awful experience

Similar to "terrible experience", "awful experience" amplifies the negative connotation.

unfavorable experience

Uses a more formal term, "unfavorable", to describe the negative experience.

disagreeable experience

Highlights the unpleasantness of the experience using the word "disagreeable".

traumatic experience

Indicates that the experience was deeply distressing and emotionally damaging.

challenging experience

Indicates that the experience was difficult and demanding.

adverse event

Replaces "experience" with "event", often used in medical or scientific contexts.

FAQs

How can I describe a "bad experience" in more detail?

Instead of just saying "bad experience", try specifying what made it negative. For instance, you could say "the service was terrible" or "the product was faulty".

What's a more formal way to say "bad experience"?

Consider using "unfavorable experience" or "negative experience" in professional settings.

When is it appropriate to use the term "traumatic experience" instead of "bad experience"?

Use "traumatic experience" when the event caused significant emotional or psychological distress. A simple "bad experience" doesn't convey the same level of severity.

What are some alternatives to "bad experience" that aren't as strong?

You can use phrases like "challenging experience" or "difficult situation" to describe something negative without emphasizing severity.