bad focus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bad focus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a lack of clarity or concentration in a particular context, such as photography, writing, or attention. Example: "The photograph was disappointing due to its bad focus, making the subject appear blurry."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

I agree with Socrates' view that "the discoverer of an art is not the best judge of the good or harm which will accrue to those who practice it". Many inventors, in an attempt to sell their invention, ignore the bad, focus on the good, and often grossly exaggerate the good.

University of California, Berkeley

In prepared remarks to be delivered at an investment conference in Los Angeles sponsored by The Los Angeles Times and attended by individual investors, Mr. Levitt said: "Successful investors, through good times and bad, focus a vigilant eye on managing risk.

The New York Times

In practice, contours are often blurred because of the acquisition conditions, like a bad focus, diffraction, movement, etc.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Raw image data generated above was imported into Spotfire DXP software (Tibco, Palo Alto, California) to remove from consideration areas with high background, bad focus, and/or image haze.

BMC Cancer

The reason for the Blurriness is bad focus or in Professional terminology: Soft focus.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

So many dramas, good and bad, focused narrowly on the male mind.

The New York Times - Arts

"Both of them, when things were really bad, focused on what made them happy and could take them out of it.

The Guardian

All three examples go beyond doing less bad and focus on doing more good.

The Guardian

Political analysts and journalists, in judging a candidacy gone bad, invariably focus on its wrong turns, with a dash of the requisite infighting among powerful staff aides and complaints by contributors.

The New York Times

But here are David's five steps to making the best of a bad situation: Focus on the positive: "It's always going to hurt but you have to keep reminding yourself you were good enough to get this far.

The Guardian

"I think some people might filter out the bad and focus on the good.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing technical issues, particularly in photography or optics, use "bad focus" to clearly indicate a problem with image clarity. Be mindful of the context; "poor focus" might be a more appropriate and less harsh alternative in some situations.

Common error

While "bad focus" is acceptable, it can sound informal. In formal reports or academic papers, consider using phrases like "poor focus", "lack of focus", or specifying the cause of the focus issue (e.g. "due to motion blur").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad focus" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "bad" modifies the noun "focus". It's used to describe the quality or state of focus being undesirable or insufficient. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

31%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Academia

11%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bad focus" is a grammatically correct and understandable phrase used to describe a lack of clarity or precision in focus, often in a visual or conceptual sense. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. While acceptable across various contexts, "poor focus" is a common alternative and more formal options like "deficient focus" may be preferred in academic or professional settings. The phrase appears most frequently in news, scientific, and wiki-based sources. When writing, consider the audience and context to determine the most appropriate wording, avoiding overuse in formal documents and ensuring clarity in technical descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poor focus

Uses a more common synonym for "bad", resulting in a slightly milder tone.

lack of focus

Emphasizes the absence of focus rather than its poor quality.

soft focus

Technical term, mainly used in photography to indicate a gentle blurring effect.

unclear focus

Highlights the ambiguity or vagueness of the focus.

blurry focus

Describes the visual appearance of something with poor focus.

faulty focus

Indicates that the focus mechanism or process is not working correctly.

deficient focus

Highlights the inadequacy or incompleteness of the focus.

imprecise focus

Emphasizes the lack of exactness or accuracy in the focus.

inadequate focus

Stresses the insufficiency of the focus for a particular purpose.

weak focus

Suggests that the focus is feeble or easily disrupted.

FAQs

How can I describe a photograph with "bad focus"?

You could say the photograph has "poor focus", is out of focus, or appears blurry. You can also specify the reason for the "lack of focus", such as motion blur or an incorrect lens setting.

What's a more formal way to say "bad focus" in a report?

In formal writing, consider alternatives like "deficient focus", "imprecise focus", or "inadequate focus". Specifying the cause, such as "focus error due to camera shake", can also improve clarity.

Is "bad focus" the same as "soft focus"?

Not exactly. "Bad focus" generally indicates an unintentional lack of sharpness, whereas "soft focus" is a deliberate blurring technique often used in photography for aesthetic purposes.

Can "bad focus" apply to things other than images?

Yes, it can describe a lack of clarity or direction in other contexts, such as a ""lack of focus"" in a project plan or a discussion. However, consider if more precise language would be better, like "poorly defined goals".