badly looking for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "badly looking for" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may confuse readers. Example: "I am badly looking for a job that matches my skills."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

After feeding, mosquitoes are badly looking for conducive places to rest, digest blood and lay eggs.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Now shivering badly, I started looking for a last wave.

The New Yorker

At one point the 770 froze so badly I went looking for the reset button.

Forbes

Every day, I talk to someone who wants something badly: a postdoc looking for his first industry research role or an applications scientist who feels that her destiny is to become one of the company's highly paid regional sales managers.

Science Magazine

The many generations of composers who created the Western tradition were comfortable with ambiguity between these poles, but contemporary art music has badly damaged itself by looking for protective partitions, rather than just omnivorously roaring through the culture as its ancestors did.

The New York Times

How this happened makes for a fascinating story about the causes of bad journalism, the messages of irresponsible and paranoid church leaders, and badly informed, popularity-seeking politicians looking for a tabloid-friendly soundbite.

The Guardian - Opinion

You have to want something very badly to be willing to go looking for it in the Fakahatchee.

The New Yorker

That's probably better than the reality: the Breaking Badly Bowl, with two reeling teams looking for their first wins of the season.

The New York Times - Sports

In its discussion of racial profiling, the report cited the case of Rodney Mack, an African-American who is principal trumpet player with the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, who said he was badly beaten by officers in Barcelona looking for a black car thief.

The New York Times

He made $13.5 million this season and was looking for a raise despite slumping badly.

The New York Times - Sports

However, a more precise way to express expectations, fears and wishes about the future is badly needed to improve interaction (i.e. looking for a system that lets users compare their future visions in real-time).

European Journal of Futures Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the grammatically questionable phrase "badly looking for", opt for stronger and more accurate alternatives such as "desperately seeking", "eagerly searching", or "intensely searching" to convey the intended meaning.

Common error

The word "badly" is often misused as an intensifier before verbs of searching. Ensure that you use adverbs that correctly modify the verb to reflect the manner of searching, such as "eagerly", "desperately", or "intently", rather than simply using "badly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "badly looking for" functions as a verb phrase attempting to describe the manner of searching. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it's not grammatically correct. The intended function is to intensify the search, but the incorrect usage of "badly" as an adverb modifying "looking" undermines this.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "badly looking for" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in standard written English. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is better to use alternative phrases such as "desperately seeking", "eagerly searching for", or "intensely searching for" to more accurately convey the intended meaning of a strong and urgent search. While there are limited examples of its use in news and science contexts, its grammatical issues make it a less desirable choice for clear and effective communication. Remember to choose adverbs that correctly modify the verb to reflect the manner of searching.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

desperately seeking

Replaces "badly" with "desperately" and "looking for" with "seeking", emphasizing the urgency and intensity of the search.

urgently seeking

Combines the urgency with a more formal verb "seeking", indicating a critical need in the search.

eagerly searching for

Substitutes "badly" with "eagerly", focusing on the enthusiasm and anticipation in the search.

intensely searching for

Uses "intensely" instead of "badly" to highlight the focused and concentrated effort in the search.

keenly searching for

Replaces "badly" with "keenly", showing enthusiasm and sharp focus in the search.

earnestly searching for

Emphasizes the sincerity and seriousness of the search using "earnestly".

anxiously looking for

Expresses worry and concern alongside the search, replacing "badly" with "anxiously".

fiercely seeking

Highlights the determination and strength in the search by using "fiercely".

determined to find

Shifts the focus to the resolution to locate something, using a different sentence structure.

actively searching for

Highlights the ongoing and energetic nature of the search, replacing "badly" with "actively".

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "badly looking for"?

Instead of "badly looking for", which is not standard English, you can use phrases like "desperately seeking", "eagerly searching for", or "intensely searching for" to convey a strong desire or need in the act of searching.

How can I emphasize the urgency of my search without using "badly looking for"?

To emphasize urgency, consider using phrases such as "urgently seeking" or "desperately seeking". These options effectively communicate the critical nature of your search.

Is it ever correct to use "badly" to describe a search?

While "badly" can describe the quality of something, such as "badly damaged", it doesn't properly modify the action of searching. Instead, use adverbs that describe the manner of the search, like "eagerly searching".

What's the difference between "eagerly searching" and "badly looking for"?

"Eagerly searching" implies enthusiasm and anticipation in the search, while "badly looking for" is grammatically incorrect. "Eagerly searching" is the preferred way to convey a strong desire to find something.