bad work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bad work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe work that is of poor quality or not up to standard. Example: "The report you submitted was considered bad work, and we need you to revise it for clarity and accuracy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Not bad work.

The New York Times

Many have bad work histories.

The Economist

Have had bad work done.

The New York Times

"They did very bad work".

The New York Times

It's bad work.

The New York Times

Bad work gets published.

The Guardian

It's far from being a bad work.

The Guardian

Tell us your bad work bugbears.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Bad work got you an 'order mark'.

The Guardian - Opinion

Because it is sitting through bad work that keeps bad work in the frame.

The Guardian

Nolo contendere is a good plea for late bad work.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "bad work", specify the area where the work is deficient. For example, "The report contained bad research" is more informative than simply saying "The report was bad work".

Common error

Avoid using "bad work" as a blanket statement without providing specific reasons. Instead, pinpoint the exact issues, such as "bad data analysis" or "bad project management", to offer constructive criticism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad work" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "bad" modifies the noun "work". Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts, indicating its established linguistic function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bad work" is a common and generally acceptable phrase used to describe work of poor quality. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While versatile, it's often more effective to specify the nature of the deficiency (e.g., "bad data analysis") for clarity. Usage is particularly frequent in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. When choosing alternatives, consider the register: more formal terms like "substandard performance" may be better suited for professional settings. Remember to avoid overgeneralizations by being specific when criticizing or evaluating work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poor quality work

Focuses on the substandard quality of the work.

substandard work

Emphasizes that the work is below the expected standard.

inferior work

Highlights the low quality and inadequacy of the work.

deficient work

Indicates that the work lacks essential elements or qualities.

inadequate work

Stresses the insufficiency of the work to meet requirements.

shoddy work

Suggests that the work is poorly made or done carelessly.

botched work

Emphasizes that the work was ruined through clumsiness or incompetence.

faulty workmanship

Highlights defects in the skills used to perform the work.

sloppy work

Indicates that the work was done carelessly and without attention to detail.

bungled job

Implies that the task was carried out incompetently and resulted in failure.

FAQs

How can I describe "bad work" in a more specific way?

Instead of just saying "bad work", try to be more precise. You could say "poor quality work", "substandard work", or specify the area of deficiency, such as "bad coding" or "bad customer service".

What are some alternative phrases for "bad work" in a professional context?

In a professional setting, consider using phrases like "deficient work", "inadequate work", or "unsatisfactory performance" to convey your message more diplomatically.

Is "bad work" considered formal or informal language?

"Bad work" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. While acceptable in many contexts, more formal alternatives like "substandard performance" or "deficient output" might be more appropriate in highly formal settings.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "bad work"?

The phrase "bad work" is suitable in situations where you need to generally describe work that doesn't meet expectations. However, providing specific examples of what makes the work "bad" is always more helpful and constructive. Try to be specific about the problems encountered.