crap

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "crap" is correct and usable in written English, though it is informal and can be considered vulgar.
You can use it to express frustration, disappointment, or to describe something of poor quality in casual contexts. Example: "I can't believe I wasted my money on that movie; it was total crap."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If you'd seen what I'd seen in the restaurant my dad ran when I was growing up, the crap we had to put up with from drunks, the puke I had to clean out of the toilets on a Friday and Saturday night, you would know it is not just a religious issue with me.

The Guardian

She said David Cameron was a "guy who put a wind turbine on his house and now backs a moratorium on wind and a guy who was hugging a husky but now talks about 'cutting the green crap'".

The Guardian

So, in recent years, we've endured 60s, 70s and 80s revivals, punters encouraged to wear silly clothes, like silly music, and generally pretend that crap things were great, a dispiriting travesty of irony, meta-irony, disingenuousness and disingenuity.

The Guardian - Sport

As a shy teenager, clothes made me feel better about my crap body; a new shirt still gives me a lift for at least three wears.

The Guardian

And the better the weather, the more the crap.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I saw myself 20 years from now, driving to my son's university every evening to absent-mindedly jiggle his massive adult body to sleep while I begrudgingly watched crap films on Netflix.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

At a tense meeting between staff, union and management after the announcement Newspoll's head researcher told staff the new methodology used by Galaxy was "crap methodology, telephone research is the best way to do it," sources who were at the meeting told Guardian Australia.

The Guardian

"If you're [a woman] performing in a comedy club, the audience will automatically assume that you're crap," says Stone. "You have to earn their trust, which makes it harder.

The Guardian

Given Tony Abbott has surrounded himself with advisers who deny the science of climate change (which he once described as "absolute crap" but now publicly claims to accept) I'm willing to believe the prime minister when he says he "can think of few things more damaging" than leaving coal in the ground.

The Guardian

But for Danish comic Sofie Hagen, that's not too different from the crap she has to put up with in daily life: from the Brits who correct her English to the men who expect her to be impressed by their self-proclaimed status as "chubby chasers".

The Guardian

He told the programme: "Step very carefully, I'm not putting up with any more crap about this".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "crap", consider your audience and the context. It's generally best suited for informal situations. In formal writing, opt for less offensive synonyms like "rubbish" or "nonsense".

Common error

Avoid using "crap" in professional emails, academic papers, or presentations. It can undermine your credibility and create a negative impression.

Linguistic Context

The word "crap" functions primarily as a noun, adjective or interjection. It's used to describe something as being of poor quality or worthless. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's commonly used in informal settings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Lifestyle

25%

Opinion

20%

Less common in

Sport

10%

Tech

5%

Books

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "crap" is a versatile but informal term used to express negativity or describe something of low quality. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's considered grammatically correct but is best reserved for casual settings. While frequently found in News & Media, its use should be carefully considered in more formal or professional contexts where alternatives like "rubbish" or "nonsense" may be more appropriate. Remember to consider your audience and the message you wish to convey when deciding whether to use "crap".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rubbish

A common and slightly less offensive alternative for something considered worthless or nonsense.

nonsense

Emphasizes the lack of logic or sense in something.

bullshit

A more vulgar synonym, conveying strong disbelief or disapproval.

garbage

Implies that something is worthless and should be discarded.

trash

Similar to garbage, suggesting something is of very low quality.

junk

Refers to things that are useless or of little value.

tripe

A British term for something considered poor quality or nonsense.

balderdash

An old-fashioned term indicating foolish or nonsensical talk.

hogwash

Similar to balderdash, implying something is ridiculous or untrue.

drivel

Suggests that something is foolish or pointless.

FAQs

How can I use "crap" in a sentence?

You can use "crap" to describe something of poor quality, express disbelief, or as an interjection. For example, "That movie was total crap", or "Oh crap, I forgot my keys!"

What can I say instead of "crap"?

You can use alternatives like "rubbish", "nonsense", or "garbage" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "crap" in professional settings?

Generally, no. "Crap" is considered informal and can be offensive. It's better to use more professional terms like "unacceptable" or "unsatisfactory" in formal contexts.

What's the difference between "crap" and "shit"?

Both "crap" and "shit" are vulgar terms, but "shit" is generally considered more offensive. "Crap" can sometimes be used more lightly to express mild annoyance or disappointment, while "shit" often carries a stronger negative connotation.