bad publicity

USAGE SUMMARY

'bad publicity' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to negative information about a person, product, organization, or event made public that damages its reputation. For example: "The company had to respond to bad publicity after reports of poor working conditions emerged."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

MORE bad publicity piled up.

The New York Times

He doesn't mind bad publicity.

The New Yorker

Mr. Moon struggled against bad publicity.

The New York Times

"The bad publicity will eventually fade away".

The New York Times

The constant bad publicity cannot help.

The Economist

"No publicity is bad publicity," she said.

The New York Times

BAD PUBLICITY, by Jeffrey Frank.

The New York Times

They hate the bad publicity".

The Guardian

The bad publicity can be devastating.

The Guardian - Money

But this, too, has sparked bad publicity.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

When Is Bad Publicity Good?

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing potential outcomes, specify the exact impact of "bad publicity" on your subject, such as decreased sales, damaged reputation, or loss of investor confidence.

Common error

Avoid the adage "there's no such thing as bad publicity" without critical thought. While publicity can increase awareness, "bad publicity" often has lasting negative consequences, outweighing any short-term benefits.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad publicity" functions as a noun phrase, where "bad" is an adjective modifying the noun "publicity". Ludwig examples show it describing events or situations that cause reputational harm. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Academia

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bad publicity" is a common and grammatically correct term used to describe situations where negative information damages a person's, product's, or organization's reputation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While some argue that all publicity is good, it's essential to recognize that "bad publicity" often has lasting negative consequences. When using the phrase, consider the specific impact and explore alternative phrases like "negative publicity" or "reputational damage" for nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negative publicity

Replaces "bad" with a direct synonym "negative", keeping the same structure.

negative press

Focuses specifically on negative coverage in the press.

unfavorable publicity

Substitutes "bad" with "unfavorable", offering a slightly more formal tone.

adverse publicity

Uses "adverse" instead of "bad", implying a more harmful or damaging effect.

unflattering media coverage

Describes the media coverage as being unflattering, implying a negative portrayal.

poor reputation

Shifts from publicity to the resulting state of reputation being poor.

public backlash

Focuses on the public's negative reaction as a consequence.

scandalous exposure

Emphasizes the scandalous nature of the publicity.

PR disaster

Uses a more concise term for a situation causing significant reputational damage.

reputational damage

Highlights the damage inflicted on one's reputation.

FAQs

How to use "bad publicity" in a sentence?

"Bad publicity" can be used to describe situations where negative news or information harms the reputation of a person, brand, or organization. For example, "The company suffered "reputational damage" due to the "bad publicity" surrounding the product recall."

What are some alternatives to "bad publicity"?

Alternatives to "bad publicity" include "negative press", "unfavorable coverage", "PR disaster", or "reputational damage". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What is the difference between "bad publicity" and "negative publicity"?

The phrases "bad publicity" and "negative publicity" are largely interchangeable. Both refer to negative information being disseminated publicly that damages someone's or something's reputation. "Negative publicity" might sound slightly more formal in some contexts.

Can "bad publicity" ever be beneficial?

While generally harmful, some argue that any publicity, even "bad publicity", can increase awareness. However, the potential negative impact on reputation and sales usually outweighs any perceived benefit. This idea is often summarized as "there's no such thing as "bad publicity"", but it's a controversial claim.