developed terrible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "developed terrible" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to describe something that has been developed poorly or with negative consequences, but it lacks proper grammatical structure. Example: "The project developed terrible results, leading to significant setbacks for the team."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Soon Hodges developed terrible rivalries.

The New York Times - Sports

Kirk developed terrible side effects, but never complained.

The New Yorker

Try China's state-run carriers, which have developed terrible reputations.

The New York Times

But the day after, she developed terrible abdominal pain.

The New Yorker

Michael, 59, developed terrible chest pains on learning his son had been lying to him about his university results.

The Guardian - Opinion

When she developed terrible diaper rash, so raw that it made Tara wince to even wash her, the pediatrician gave instructions to change her formula and put cream on the rash and keep it dry.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Conversely, cancer patients taking epidural injections of morphine can develop terrible itches.

The New York Times - Health

The animals bite each other in greeting, and thereby spread the malignant cells, developing terrible tumours on their faces.

The Guardian

(A husband and wife who collaborate on a book often have a different tale to tell, of a marriage that develops terrible strains in the cause of working together, but that is the stuff of gossip columnists).

The New York Times - Books

People who take the drug may come down with problems in the central nervous system, insomnia, night terrors and sensitivity to light that causes them to develop terrible sunburns, Dr. Saiman said.

The New York Times

He says he now develops terrible headaches every 12th January, the anniversary of the earthquake.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something negative that has emerged, consider using stronger, more specific adjectives like "severe", "acute", or "critical" after the verb "developed" to enhance clarity and impact. Alternatively, rephrase to use a more grammatically sound structure. For example, rewrite as "developed a terrible condition".

Common error

Avoid using "developed terrible" on its own. This construction often sounds incomplete. Instead, clarify what exactly became terrible by adding a noun after "terrible", or by using a more precise adjective. Examples: "developed a terrible rash" or "developed severe complications".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "developed terrible" functions as part of a verb phrase, indicating the emergence of something negative. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase requires a noun or stronger adjective to complete its meaning. Examples show it used to describe health conditions, habits, or problems.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "developed terrible" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect in standard written English. It often requires additional context, such as a noun, to be meaningful. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts. For more formal or precise writing, consider using alternatives like "developed severe" or rephrasing to include a noun. Remember to use more specific language instead of "terrible" for better clarity. Overall, while not strictly incorrect, this phrase should be used with caution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

developed severe

Replaces "terrible" with "severe", indicating a high degree of seriousness or intensity.

acquired awful

Substitutes "terrible" with "awful", suggesting something extremely unpleasant or bad was acquired.

contracted serious

Uses "contracted" instead of "developed" and "serious" instead of "terrible", implying the onset of a grave condition.

developed acute

Replaces "terrible" with "acute", indicating a sudden and severe onset.

developed extreme

Substitutes "terrible" with "extreme", conveying the highest degree of intensity or severity.

became afflicted with

Uses "became afflicted with" instead of "developed", emphasizing the suffering caused by something terrible.

came down with a bad case of

Replaces "developed terrible" with a more descriptive phrase suggesting illness.

developed a case of

Expresses the beginning of a terrible or unpleasant condition.

endured horrible

Emphasizes the experience of suffering through something extremely unpleasant or bad.

experienced dreadful

Uses "experienced" in place of "developed", indicating a terrible experience.

FAQs

How can I properly use the phrase "developed terrible" in a sentence?

While "developed terrible" isn't grammatically correct, you can rephrase it. For example, use "developed a terrible" followed by a noun (e.g., "developed a terrible rash") or replace "terrible" with a more precise adjective like "developed severe".

What are some alternatives to "developed terrible"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "acquired awful", "contracted serious", or rephrase to say "developed a terrible [condition]". Consider the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is it correct to say someone "developed terrible symptoms"?

It's more common and grammatically sound to say someone "developed terrible symptoms". This clarifies that the symptoms themselves were terrible, making the phrase more understandable and grammatically correct.

What's the difference between saying "developed terrible side effects" and "developed severe side effects"?

While both describe negative side effects, "developed severe side effects" is generally considered more grammatically correct and emphasizes the intensity or seriousness of the side effects. "Terrible" is less precise. Consider replacing "terrible" for a more accurate term. "Developed severe" is a better alternative.