doing poorly

USAGE SUMMARY

"doing poorly" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is often used to describe someone's performance or situation, indicating that they are not doing well or not meeting expectations. Example: John is worried about his son's progress in school. He has been doing poorly in his math class and needs to improve his grades.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"But most people end up doing poorly.

The New York Times

"You know why he's doing poorly," he asked.

The Guardian

"There are too many players, most of them doing poorly.

The New York Times

The company acknowledged that it was doing poorly in Europe.

The New York Times

After doing poorly in her first French class, she repeated French I the next year.

The New York Times - Arts

But you know, anything worth doing is worth doing poorly at first.

The Guardian

We have never believed that I am doing poorly because you are doing well.

The New Yorker

"All the stories that say: 'Oh, his campaign sucks, that's why he's doing poorly' … not really.

The Guardian

"When they think that, they don't seek treatment soon enough, and they end up doing poorly".

The New York Times - Health

She also perceived herself to be doing poorly, despite getting decent grades.

The New Yorker

"The motivation was to avoid doing poorly, looking weak," Dr. Jagacinski said.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "doing poorly", ensure the context is clear. Specify what is being done poorly to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "The company is doing poorly", specify "The company is doing poorly in sales this quarter".

Common error

Avoid using "doing poorly" as a vague descriptor without providing context. Saying something is "doing poorly" leaves the audience wondering what specific aspects are underperforming. Always provide specifics for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doing poorly" functions as a verb phrase, typically part of a predicate, describing the state or performance of a subject. It indicates a lack of success or quality in an action or endeavor. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this is a correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "doing poorly" is a commonly used and grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe substandard performance or unfavorable conditions. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is correct and widespread. Predominantly found in News & Media, it offers a straightforward way to express a negative assessment. While versatile, providing context is vital to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "performing badly" or "underperforming" can add nuance. When writing with "doing poorly", be aware of these alternatives to maintain clarity. In short, if something's not up to snuff, "doing poorly" offers a clear way to express that notion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

performing badly

Replaces "doing" with "performing" and "poorly" with "badly", focusing on the manner of execution.

underperforming

Highlights performance below expectations or standards.

not succeeding

Shifts the focus to the lack of achievement rather than the manner of doing something.

struggling

Conveys a sense of difficulty and effort in trying to achieve something.

not measuring up

Indicates a failure to meet a specific benchmark or requirement.

falling short

Emphasizes the failure to reach a desired outcome or target.

failing to thrive

Emphasizes a lack of growth or progress, suitable for describing businesses or personal development.

having difficulties

Focuses on the challenges faced rather than the overall result.

not progressing well

Highlights the lack of forward movement or advancement.

slipping up

Suggests making mistakes or errors that lead to poor performance.

FAQs

How can I use "doing poorly" in a sentence?

You can use "doing poorly" to describe someone's performance or a situation that is not meeting expectations. For example: "He is doing poorly in his exams" or "The company is doing poorly this year".

What are some alternatives to "doing poorly"?

Some alternatives include "performing badly", "underperforming", or "struggling". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "doing bad" instead of "doing poorly"?

While "doing bad" might be heard in informal speech, "doing poorly" is grammatically correct and more appropriate for formal writing. "Doing bad" is typically considered non-standard English.

What's the difference between "doing poorly" and "not succeeding"?

"Doing poorly" describes the manner in which something is being done, implying it is not being executed well. "Not succeeding", on the other hand, focuses on the outcome, indicating a failure to achieve a desired result, and could be rephrased as "failing to thrive".