do badly

USAGE SUMMARY

"do badly" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it in a sentence to describe how something is performed, usually in a negative way. For example, "He did badly on his math exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Reference

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Otherwise, they will do badly.

The Economist

His National Conference will surely do badly.

The Economist

If we do badly, we suffer".

The Guardian - Business

It didn't do badly by itself, either.

The New York Times

He didn't do badly before that, either.

The New York Times - Sports

Labour will do badly this Thursday, in local and European elections, and deserves to do badly.

The Guardian - Opinion

The PPP looked set to do badly in Saturday's vote.

Independent

"I don't want to see him do badly.

Independent

All things considered, the shadow chancellor didn't do badly.

The Guardian

Pollsters had said his centre-left Socialists would do badly.

The Economist

Governing parties often do badly in by-elections.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "do badly", consider the specific context. It's suitable for describing performance in tasks, elections, or general situations where results are unfavorable.

Common error

Ensure the subject performing badly is clear. Saying "things did badly" is less effective than specifying what "things" refers to, such as "the project did badly" or "sales did badly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "do badly" functions as a verb phrase that expresses a negative outcome or poor performance. Ludwig AI indicates it's a correct and usable phrase in written English. The examples show it describing performance in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "do badly" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to express poor performance or negative outcomes across a variety of contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is correct and commonly used in written English. Analysis of Ludwig's examples reveals that the phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, but also appears in Scientific and Business contexts. While "do badly" is widely accepted, it is important to ensure the subject is clear to avoid vagueness in writing. Consider alternatives like "perform poorly" or "fail miserably" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perform poorly

Replaces "do badly" with a more formal verb choice, emphasizing the action of performing.

fare poorly

Substitutes "do" with "fare", suggesting a similar outcome but with a slightly different connotation of experiencing a negative result.

not succeed

Offers a more general term for failure, applicable in a broader range of situations.

fall short

Indicates a failure to reach a required standard or expectation.

fail miserably

Emphasizes the degree of failure, suggesting a particularly poor performance.

have no success

Provides a more descriptive alternative, focusing on the absence of positive outcomes.

come to grief

Implies a significant and unfortunate failure, often with long-lasting consequences.

be unsuccessful

A more formal and straightforward way of saying something did not work out.

not measure up

Suggests a failure to meet expectations or standards, often in a competitive context.

flounder

Implies struggling and failing to progress, often due to difficulty or incompetence.

FAQs

How can I use "do badly" in a sentence?

You can use "do badly" to describe poor performance or unfavorable outcomes. For instance, "The team did badly in the championship game" or "The economy did badly during the recession".

What phrases are similar to "do badly"?

Alternatives to "do badly" include "perform poorly", "fare poorly", or "fail miserably", depending on the level of emphasis you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "did bad" instead of "do badly"?

While "did bad" might be used in very informal contexts, "do badly" is grammatically correct and more appropriate for formal writing. "Badly" is an adverb modifying the verb "do", whereas "bad" is an adjective.

What's the difference between "do badly" and "not succeed"?

"Do badly" implies a level of failure or poor performance in a specific task or situation. "Not succeed", however, is a more general term indicating a lack of positive outcome, which can be due to various factors beyond performance. It's more about getting the desired end result.