bad quality

USAGE SUMMARY

"bad quality" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to describe a product or service that is not of good quality, for example "The headphones had bad quality sound and were difficult to use".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"You get bad quality, funky sounds.

The New York Times - Tech

"His face is not unlike beef of a bad quality.

The Guardian - Books

Sportswear here is also expensive and bad quality".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Very bad quality," one beckoned to me with a wink.

The New York Times - Travel

However, bad quality ionograms would reduce the accuracy of automatic scaled (autoscaled) values.

Advances in Space Research

Ignoring the bad quality bins may alter the grouping flag sizes.

Harvard University

Exclude channels where pha is between 25 and 32 inclusive, marking them with bad quality.

Harvard University

Sometimes he has no filter, but sometimes that's not a bad quality".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

The S-WPIA ignores the event packet when the quality flag shows bad-quality data.

Earth, Planets and Space

We're talking Breaking Bad-quality storytelling, so I'm going slowly.

Huffington Post

"It's harder to tell the difference between good-quality and bad-quality information than it is between a good-quality and a bad-quality shirt.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific attribute, follow "bad quality" with a clarifying noun. For instance, say "bad quality sound" rather than just "bad quality" to be more descriptive.

Common error

Avoid using "bad quality" as a vague criticism. Always provide specific examples or details about what makes the quality bad. Instead of saying "the product is bad quality", specify "the product has bad quality stitching and easily tears".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad quality" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase modifying a noun. It indicates that a particular item or service does not meet acceptable standards of excellence. Ludwig provides numerous examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

29%

Science

51%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "bad quality" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something that doesn't meet acceptable standards. As shown by Ludwig, its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, from news reports to scientific papers. While versatile, remember to be specific about what makes the quality bad. Alternatives like "poor quality" or "inferior quality" can be used for variety, but "bad quality" itself is widely understood and appropriate in many situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Inferior quality

Uses "inferior" instead of "bad" to describe the quality.

Poor quality

Replaces "bad" with "poor", a common synonym.

Substandard quality

Emphasizes that the quality is below the required standard.

Deficient quality

Highlights the lack of something necessary for good quality.

Low-grade quality

Specifies the quality as being of a low grade or rank.

Unacceptable quality

Focuses on the fact that the quality is not acceptable.

Second-rate quality

Suggests the quality is not the best or first-rate.

Shoddy quality

Indicates that the quality is poorly made or done.

Awful quality

Uses a stronger adjective to emphasize the poor quality.

Terrible quality

Emphasizes the severity of the poor quality.

FAQs

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

You can use "bad quality" to describe something that doesn't meet acceptable standards. For instance, "The video had "bad quality", making it hard to see" or "The restaurant received complaints about its "bad quality" food".

What are some alternatives to "bad quality"?

Alternatives include "poor quality", "inferior quality", or "substandard quality". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of negativity you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "bad quality"? Can't you just say "bad"?

While "bad" can sometimes imply poor quality, "bad quality" is more explicit and less ambiguous. Saying "bad quality" clarifies that you are specifically referring to the characteristics or features of something, rather than a more general negative assessment.

What's the difference between "bad quality" and "low quality"?

"Bad quality" and "low quality" are often used interchangeably, but "bad quality" can sometimes imply a more significant defect or problem. "Low quality" may simply mean that something is not very good, while "bad quality" might suggest it's unusable or significantly flawed.