badly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "badly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something done in a poor or unsatisfactory manner. Example: "He performed badly on the exam, which affected his overall grade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was a ridiculous idea dreamed up by his advisers who have served him badly.

The Guardian

"It went down very badly.

The Guardian - Film

He was badly beaten.

The Guardian

"Under the previous government immigration was far too high and badly out of control.

The Guardian

And, alas, two weeks after I had berated the JW Anderson sales assistant for not stocking a blue and white striped menswear shirt I wanted badly on its womenswear rails.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That defeat to Kumkhum last year hurt badly, Kvitova said, but it may also have helped her dig deeper to find the form that won her another Wimbledon.

The Guardian - Sport

The former certainly looks like a prizefighter who has been battered senseless by a meaner, leaner opponent; the latter has endured an equally bruising encounter in the ring but has walked away bleeding badly but still standing after a 12-round points draw.

The Guardian

"I thought he was extremely badly treated, the way they bundled him out.

The Guardian

These turned the story of the band into a surreal sitcom, casting them as a hapless odd couple – Spinal Tap meets Men Behaving Badly.

The Guardian - Music

Derek Bardowell of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, who has managed mentor programmes in the past, has a word of caution: "Many people do it [mentoring] quite badly.

The Guardian

An impoverished country of 3.2 million, Armenia was badly affected by the global downturn.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "badly" to describe the manner in which an action is performed, especially when emphasizing a negative outcome or deficiency. For example, "The project was badly managed, leading to significant losses."

Common error

Avoid using "bad" when "badly" is required to modify a verb. "Bad" is an adjective, while "badly" is an adverb. Incorrect: "He played bad." Correct: "He played badly."

Linguistic Context

The adverb "badly" primarily functions to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating the manner in which an action is performed. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent use in diverse contexts. Examples in Ludwig showcase its versatility in describing negative outcomes or deficiencies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Lifestyle

14%

Sport

12%

Less common in

Opinion

8%

Music

6%

Arts

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "badly" is a grammatically sound and versatile term used to describe the manner in which an action is performed, typically emphasizing a negative or deficient quality. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s used across various contexts from news and media to lifestyle and sports reporting. The phrase is best used to modify verbs and should not be confused with the adjective "bad". To avoid common errors, remember that "badly" modifies verbs, while "bad" modifies nouns. Semantically related phrases such as "poorly", "severely", and "gravely" can be used as alternatives, depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poorly

A direct synonym, often interchangeable with "badly" to describe the quality of an action or performance.

severely

Emphasizes the intensity or degree of the negative impact.

gravely

Implies a serious or critical negative consequence.

terribly

Highlights the poor quality or undesirable nature of something.

awfully

Similar to terribly, but can sometimes carry a more informal tone.

inadequately

Focuses on the insufficient or deficient nature of something.

deficiently

A more formal way of saying inadequately, emphasizing a lack of something.

substandard

Highlights that something is below the expected or required level.

to a poor standard

Describes something done with a low level of quality or skill.

amiss

Implies that something is out of place or not as it should be.

FAQs

How is "badly" correctly used in a sentence?

"Badly" is an adverb that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. For example: "The team performed "badly" in the competition." It describes how something is done.

What are some synonyms for "badly"?

Alternatives to "badly" include "poorly", "severely", "gravely", and "terribly". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it ever correct to say "I feel badly"?

Saying "I feel "badly"" is grammatically correct if you mean your sense of touch is impaired. However, most people use "I feel "bad"" to express sadness or remorse. Context is crucial.

What's the difference between "bad" and "badly"?

"Bad" is an adjective used to describe a noun, while "badly" is an adverb used to modify a verb. For example, "He is a "bad" driver" versus "He drives "badly"."