bad proposals

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bad proposals" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe suggestions or plans that are poorly conceived or likely to fail. Example: "The committee rejected several bad proposals during the meeting, opting instead for more viable options."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Mr. Weiner acknowledged saying no to "a lot of" bad proposals for licensed products because, he said, he does not "want the show to be exploited".

The New York Times

If in its love-besot way, the public is accepting bad proposals, then good tax reform must fail, just as the deficit problem is smoke-screened away.

Los Angeles Times

We are spending so much time pushing back against and resisting bad proposals that I yearn for us to develop a coherent vision of conservation to guide our next 100 years.

Huffington Post

Those of us that stand up to fight bad proposals at the local level, bad legislation at the state level and bad policies at the federal level don't do it because it is safe, expedient or popular.

Huffington Post

Since in every grant or fellowship peer review process some good proposals are rejected and some bad proposals are accepted due to random error or systematic bias [36], it is instructive to calculate the extent of erroneous decisions [37].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"This is a bad proposal for many reasons," she added.

The New York Times

The House leadership weighed in on Thursday with a particularly bad proposal.

The New York Times

2007 Misc "How to Write a Bad Proposal," CRA-W Career Mentoring Workshop, San Diego, California, June 9-10, 2007.

University of California, Berkeley

The other principal sponsor of the Senate bill, John Edwards, Democrat of North Carolina, called the deal "a bad proposal".

The New York Times

Despite some calls for a vote, the union's executive board believes it cannot call for a vote on a bad proposal.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. McKeon, who is strongly opposed to  deep military cuts, said in a statement that he backed the deal "with deep reservations" but called it "the least bad proposal before us".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When critiquing proposals, be specific about why they are considered "bad". Provide concrete examples of their shortcomings and suggest alternatives.

Common error

Avoid simply labeling proposals as "bad" without explaining why. Offer detailed feedback, pinpointing specific weaknesses and areas for improvement. This helps in constructive engagement and allows for better revisions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad proposals" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "bad" modifies the noun "proposals". Ludwig AI confirms this usage with examples showing the phrase referring to suggestions or plans deemed inadequate or flawed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bad proposals" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe suggestions or plans that are considered inadequate or flawed. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase appears across various domains, including news, science, and academia, indicating its versatility and widespread understanding. While often used neutrally, it's most impactful when the specific reasons for the proposals' inadequacy are clearly articulated. When using this phrase, providing constructive feedback alongside criticism improves communication and encourages better solutions. Alternatives like "flawed suggestions" or "poorly conceived plans" can add subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flawed suggestions

Substitutes "proposals" with "suggestions" and "bad" with "flawed", emphasizing imperfections.

poorly conceived plans

Replaces "bad" with "poorly conceived", highlighting the lack of good planning behind the proposals.

unwise suggestions

Uses "unwise" instead of "bad", indicating a lack of good judgement.

ill-considered ideas

Replaces "bad" with "ill-considered" and "proposals" with "ideas", emphasizing that the proposals were not carefully thought out.

unacceptable offers

Replaces "proposals" with "offers" and "bad" with "unacceptable", focusing on the idea that the offers are not satisfactory.

inadequate recommendations

Uses "inadequate" instead of "bad" and "recommendations" instead of "proposals", suggesting the suggestions are not sufficient or suitable.

unsuitable schemes

Replaces "bad" with "unsuitable" and "proposals" with "schemes", implying the plans are inappropriate for the given situation.

deficient propositions

Employs "deficient" instead of "bad" and "propositions" instead of "proposals", highlighting a lack of necessary qualities or elements.

substandard submissions

Replaces "proposals" with "submissions" and "bad" with "substandard", suggesting they fail to meet a required level of quality.

unpromising initiatives

Substitutes "proposals" with "initiatives" and "bad" with "unpromising", conveying a lack of potential for success.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to saying "bad proposals"?

You can use alternatives such as "flawed suggestions", "poorly conceived plans", or "unacceptable offers" depending on the context.

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

You might say, "The committee rejected several bad proposals before approving a viable solution" or "We need to identify the bad proposals early in the planning process to avoid wasting resources."

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

A "bad proposal" is typically one that is poorly planned, lacks feasibility, is not aligned with the objectives, or presents significant risks. It often fails to address key issues or lacks a clear path to success.

Is it better to say "poor proposals" or "bad proposals"?

Both "poor proposals" and "bad proposals" are acceptable, but "bad proposals" is more common. "Poor proposals" might imply a lack of resources or skill, while "bad proposals" suggests fundamental flaws in the idea or plan.