dreadful effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dreadful effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an attempt or exertion that is perceived as poor or lacking in quality. Example: "Despite their dreadful effort in the project, the team learned valuable lessons for future endeavors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Dreadful effort.

The New York Times

He'll not be too worried, as Kaymer slices his second, a dreadful effort miles down the right.

The Guardian - Sport

It's a dreadful effort, his hands twitching and turning as he hoicks the ball to the right of the hole.

The Guardian - Sport

It was an aberration of indecision and frail confidence, a dreadful effort that would have provided his team with a deserved lead.

The Guardian - Sport

He's up to -8 - and has a share of the lead, because Day prods a dreadful effort below the hole, and that's a bogey which consigns him to -8 too.

The Guardian - Sport

Rebounding from a dreadful effort, Donovan McNabb passed for 269 yards and 2 touchdowns and ran for 41 yards, leading Philadelphia past Kansas City, 23-10, last night in Kansas City, Mo.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

19th over: West Indies 122-6 (Sammy 11, Ramdin 4) Malinga to continue after that dreadful previous effort, but with Samuels now sat back in the dugout, maybe he can breath easy.

The Guardian - Sport

The inspirational Mortlock left the field with concussion and Butch James and Steyn kicked two more South African penalties to bring the margin back to just four points, but Australia remained in control and Berrick Barnes sealed the win with a late drop goal, making amends for a dreadful earlier effort that fell well short and wide.

The Guardian - Sport

Tom says publisher's memoirs are a bore, citing Tom Maschler's recent effort, which had dreadful reviews.

The Guardian - Books

Goring, who was hired by General Manager Mike Milbury last season, was hoping his team would produce a better effort than its dreadful one Saturday night against Atlanta.

The New York Times - Sports

A​fter a storied career in comedy that has spanned decades of ups and notoriously dreadful downs, Bill Cosby is making a concerted effort to return to the spotlight.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an action or event, use strong verbs and specific nouns to convey the full extent of the "dreadful effort".

Common error

Avoid using "dreadful effort" in contexts that demand neutrality or objectivity. Opt for more professional terms like "substandard performance" or "inadequate attempt" to maintain a formal tone. Also avoid using it in situations where a constructive criticism is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dreadful effort" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "dreadful" modifies the noun "effort". It serves to describe a particular attempt or undertaking as being of very poor quality. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English to describe something negatively.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dreadful effort" is used to describe something someone did as very bad or of low quality. It's considered grammatically correct and is usable in written English, as Ludwig AI stated. Though not very common, it frequently appears in News & Media and carries a neutral tone with a slightly negative connotation. When writing, consider alternatives such as "terrible attempt" or "awful performance" to better suit the specific context. Be mindful of its somewhat critical nature and avoid overuse in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terrible attempt

Replaces "dreadful" with "terrible", a synonym with similar connotations of poor quality.

inadequate attempt

Directly states the attempt was not sufficient or good enough, using neutral language.

awful performance

Substitutes both words with close synonyms, shifting the focus to the outcome of the effort.

weak try

Simplifies the expression, suggesting a lack of strength or commitment in the effort.

pathetic showing

Emphasizes the disappointing nature of the effort, using a more emotionally charged descriptor.

unimpressive display

Focuses on the visual aspect of the effort, implying it failed to make a positive impact.

lousy endeavor

Replaces "dreadful" with "lousy" and "effort" with "endeavor", maintaining the critical tone.

substandard work

Focuses on the quality of the output, indicating it falls below acceptable standards.

poor undertaking

Highlights the inadequacy of the task or project, using a slightly more formal tone.

deficient execution

Emphasizes the flawed manner in which the effort was carried out, using more technical language.

FAQs

How can I use "dreadful effort" in a sentence?

You can use "dreadful effort" to describe a poor or inadequate attempt at something. For example, "Despite their "dreadful effort" in the project, the team learned valuable lessons."

What are some alternatives to "dreadful effort"?

Alternatives include "terrible attempt", "awful performance", or "pathetic showing", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "dreadful effort"?

It's appropriate when you want to express strong disapproval or disappointment with a particular attempt or undertaking, usually in informal/neutral contexts. However, consider more neutral phrases for formal or professional settings.

Is "dreadful effort" a formal or informal expression?

"Dreadful effort" leans towards the informal/neutral side, as "dreadful" implies a strong negative emotion. More formal options would be "substandard work" or "inadequate attempt".