by how stupid

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by how stupid" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express surprise or frustration regarding someone's lack of intelligence, but it lacks proper context and structure. Example: "I was shocked by how stupid the decision was."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

I'm fascinated by how stupid people are.

The New Yorker

"I think we're all impressed by how stupid humans are," remarked James Gee, a professor of literacy studies at Arizona State University, who holds degrees in philosophy and linguistics from Stanford.

Stanford University

I was irritated by how stupid Eduard was being.

Vice

If I managed to actually eke out a sentence, I'd immediately delete it, disgusted by how stupid or awful it was.

Huffington Post

"I happen to be a resident of Philadelphia and I am truly amazed by how stupid and ignorant you are". If you were living in L.A.--you wouldn't be amazed.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Decline-and-fall books, like E. D. Hirsch Jr.'s "Cultural Literacy" and Allan Bloom's "Closing of the American Mind," can leave the reader torn between depression and elation: by detailing how stupid everyone else is, the authors leave us feeling better about ourselves.

The New York Times - Books

Most of us have seen the old television commercials before, those 1950s ads that marketed products by telling women how stupid and disappointing they were.

The New York Times - Arts

Haig Balian, the director of ARTIS Royal Zoo, in Amsterdam, told me that he had first reacted to Marius's death by asking himself, "How stupid can you be?" He then became grateful for the controversy, because it had placed questions about the purpose of zoos "in the middle of society".

The New Yorker

We talked for a while about martial arts, the concentration involved, how the primal instinct gets repressed by the intellect, how stupid people are, how much we liked sushi.

Vice

The horror is turned up to 11, then suddenly somebody seems to have grabbed the snake that has us cornered, and dangled it by the tail to show how stupid it can look, even at its most threatening.

The Guardian

America's best sex is now sex-by-proxy, performed by skilled professionals. 5. We see how stupid and destructive sexual acting-out can be.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing surprise or frustration at someone's lack of intelligence, consider using more grammatically standard alternatives like "how foolish" or "how ignorant". This provides clearer communication and avoids potential misunderstandings.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "by how stupid" as it is not a recognized or grammatically sound expression. Opt for clearer and more direct alternatives to effectively convey your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase's intended grammatical function seems to be expressing surprise or exasperation at a perceived lack of intelligence. However, it is not a standard construction and may not be readily understood. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase lacks proper context and structure.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "by how stupid" attempts to express surprise or frustration, yet it falls short of grammatical correctness and clarity. While the individual words are common, their combination creates an awkward construction. Ludwig AI confirms this by stating the phrase lacks proper context and structure. Although examples exist in news and media, as well as some personal blogs, it is recommended to use clearer alternatives like "how foolish" or "how ignorant" for effective communication. Using recognized and grammatically sound expressions will allow for a more readily and widely understood expression. Despite its appearance in various sources, stick to standard grammar for clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

How incredibly foolish

Focuses on foolishness as a characteristic, emphasizing the surprising degree of it.

How utterly absurd

Replaces stupidity with absurdity, highlighting the nonsensical nature of something.

How remarkably ignorant

Shifts the focus to ignorance, suggesting a lack of knowledge rather than intelligence.

I'm amazed at their lack of intelligence

Expresses amazement at the absence of intelligence, making the statement more direct.

The sheer level of idiocy

Uses "idiocy" to underscore the extreme nature of the lack of intelligence.

The extent of their lack of understanding

Focuses on the degree to which understanding is absent.

It's astonishing how dense they are

Employs "dense" to describe a lack of quick understanding.

The surprising degree of obtuseness

Uses "obtuseness" to convey a slowness in understanding or perceiving.

What a monumental blunder

Highlights a significant error or mistake made due to poor judgment.

The breathtaking incompetence

Emphasizes a lack of ability to do something successfully or efficiently.

FAQs

What's a better way to phrase "by how stupid"?

Instead of "by how stupid", consider using alternatives like "how foolish", "how ignorant", or "the level of idiocy" to express surprise or frustration regarding a lack of intelligence.

Is "by how stupid" grammatically correct?

The phrase "by how stupid" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase lacks proper context and structure.

How can I use "stupid" in a grammatically correct sentence?

You can use "stupid" correctly in phrases like "how stupid they are", "that was a stupid decision", or "I feel stupid for believing that".

What does it mean when someone says something is "stupid"?

When someone says something is "stupid", they generally mean it lacks intelligence, is foolish, or shows poor judgment. Depending on the context, you might consider alternatives like "naive", "foolish" or "unwise".