bottom class

USAGE SUMMARY

'bottom class' is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to refer to the lowest rank or level of something, such as a social, economic, or educational class. For example, "She grew up in the bottom class of society and had to work hard to make something of herself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

THE socio-economic classifications used by Charles Booth, a researcher in 19th-century London, were much more colourful than the bland gradations preferred by modern sociologists: the bottom class in Booth's hierarchy is labelled "vicious, semi-criminal".

The Economist

Some time ago, a study in Franklin, Indiana [this vagueness of reference is all too typical of "The Other America"], reported that the percentage of people in the bottom class who were without affiliations of any kind was eight times as great as the percentage in the high-income class.

The New Yorker

The park was originally established as "Upper Pine Bottom Class B Public Camp" and named for the stream that flows through it.

Wikipedia

Based on this analysis, we identified 24% of the known domains (Figure 1B bottom, class 1, IRs (known)) within the class 1 data (136 IRs), indicating that Pfam domains are more concentrated in class 1 IRs than in class 2 IRs (Figure 1B bottom; Table S6).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Before the Netherlands abolished compulsory voting in 1970 there was only a 4% difference between the voting levels of the top and bottom classes.

The Guardian

The idea is that if you search out the bottom of the bottom of the bottom classes than that class will have the unique property that it has no one else to exploit.

Yale University

The important issue is not how much inequality there is but how much opportunity there is for individuals to get out of the bottom classes and into the top.

Huffington Post

A project combining satellite imagery interpretation, side scan sonar bottom classes and groundtruthing is planned for 2010 to address this gap in our knowledge.

Plosone

A variety of bottom classes have been identified and mapped from side scan sonar data but further and wider surveys are needed to determine whether substrate classes are a suitable proxy for different biological habitats on Saba Bank.

Plosone

The GSE map is a smoothing of the EME map with fewer regions in the top or bottom classes and thus represents a gain in terms of cohesion.

European Journal of Population

Although this represented a range of sizes, the higher frequency of smaller fragments and their advantage during the amplification steps resulted in a de facto enrichment of the near-bottom class of fragments.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to the "bottom class", consider the specific context to avoid generalizations. Specify whether you're referring to socioeconomic status, academic performance, or another classification.

Common error

Avoid associating the "bottom class" with inherent moral failings. Socioeconomic status or academic ranking doesn't define character.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bottom class" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It identifies the lowest rank or socioeconomic level within a defined hierarchy. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bottom class" is a grammatically sound and usable English term, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It refers to the lowest stratum within a given classification, often socioeconomic. While acceptable, it's essential to consider context and potential sensitivities when using it. More specific alternatives such as "lower socioeconomic group" or "disadvantaged population" may be preferable in formal or sensitive contexts. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, Science and Wiki, and Ludwig's examples reflect a neutral usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lowest class

Replaces "bottom" with its direct synonym "lowest".

underclass

Represents the segment of society at the very bottom, often economically disadvantaged.

lowest stratum

Uses "stratum" to refer to a level or class, implying a layered structure.

lower class

A more general term for the social or economic group below the middle class.

lowest tier

Implies a hierarchical structure with the "bottom class" occupying the lowest level.

disadvantaged class

Focuses on the lack of opportunities and resources associated with the bottom class.

most deprived class

Highlights the severe lack of resources and opportunities.

lowest socioeconomic group

A formal and specific term indicating low status in terms of both economic and social factors.

poorest segment

Focuses specifically on the economic aspect of being in the bottom class.

marginalized group

Highlights the exclusion and lack of power experienced by those in the bottom class.

FAQs

What does "bottom class" mean?

The term "bottom class" generally refers to the lowest rank, tier, or socioeconomic group within a given classification or hierarchy.

Is it appropriate to use the term "bottom class" in formal writing?

Yes, "bottom class" is acceptable but consider more specific and sensitive alternatives like "lower socioeconomic group" or "underprivileged population" depending on the context. Other alternatives could be "lowest class", "underclass", "lower class" and "disadvantaged class".

How does the meaning of "bottom class" differ from "lower class"?

"Bottom class" often implies the very lowest level, while "lower class" is a broader term encompassing a range of socioeconomic levels below the middle class.

Can "bottom class" be used in contexts other than socioeconomic status?

Yes, "bottom class" can apply to any hierarchical ranking, such as academic performance (e.g., "the bottom of the class") or organizational structure.