dreadful practice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dreadful practice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a behavior or method that is considered very bad or harmful. Example: "The company’s decision to cut corners on safety measures is a dreadful practice that endangers employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Sadly, the truth about the extent of the dreadful practice was available much closer to home.

The Guardian

All these burials and reburials were a danger to public health, according to advocates of cremation, who argued that burning the dead would put a stop to the dreadful practice of "horrid exhumations and mangling of remains".

The New Yorker

Owen Gibson Waris Dirie has done more than any other person to raise awareness about the dreadful practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), which potentially affects millions of women, principally in Africa and Asia but also increasingly in the UK and other west European countries.

The Guardian

I wonder what my mother -- the same woman who made sure I got my red hat, in spite of what the neighbors might think -- would think about such a dreadful practice on helpless young people.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Human-rights groups who point to dreadful practices, such as routine killings of criminals by police, are told how much worse things were before.

The Economist

Some Qataris object that these reports focus relentlessly on dreadful practices while many of the men working in construction, and women in domestic service, are humanely treated, paid on time, and send a critical stream of money home.

The Guardian

While Mackenzie is not the first writer and director to tackle this subject, her film is based on a true story; and she hopes that the film will further mobilize support for a number political projects committed to abolishing these dreadful practices.

Huffington Post

Over the last 30 years, the global triumph of neoliberalism has restored some of the inequalities, vulnerability and dreadful working practices that were prevalent more than 100 years ago.

The Guardian

Everyone has heard of fracking these days -- that dreadful and dangerous practice of drilling and injecting chemical-laden fluid into the ground at a high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks below to release natural gas or oil inside.

Huffington Post

Did it show her a nasty side of children? "I had a dreadful time doing teaching practice with classes I couldn't control.

Independent

He passed the bar without finishing his degree; he considered the practice of law "dreadful drudgery" and abandoned it.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dreadful practice", ensure the context clearly indicates the severity and negative consequences of the practice being described. This phrase carries a strong negative connotation.

Common error

Avoid using "dreadful practice" for situations that are merely inconvenient or unpleasant. This phrase is best reserved for actions with serious ethical or harmful implications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dreadful practice" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "dreadful" modifies the noun "practice". It describes a specific kind of practice characterized by its extremely negative or harmful nature. Ludwig AI validates this usage through various examples from reputable sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dreadful practice" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in written English, employed to denote actions or behaviors considered extremely negative or harmful. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of this usage. While not exceedingly common, its presence in reputable sources like The Guardian and The New Yorker underscores its appropriateness for formal contexts, particularly in news and media. When employing this phrase, writers should ensure that the severity of the described action warrants such a strong condemnation to avoid overstatement. Alternatives like "terrible habit" or "awful custom" may be more suitable for less severe situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terrible habit

Replaces "practice" with "habit", suggesting a regular but undesirable behavior.

awful custom

Substitutes "dreadful" with "awful" and "practice" with "custom", indicating a negative traditional behavior.

atrocious behavior

Replaces "dreadful" with "atrocious" and "practice" with "behavior", emphasizing the severity of the conduct.

deplorable act

Substitutes "dreadful" with "deplorable" and "practice" with "act", focusing on a single, regrettable action.

disgraceful conduct

Replaces "dreadful" with "disgraceful" and "practice" with "conduct", highlighting the shamefulness of the behavior.

horrendous activity

Substitutes "dreadful" with "horrendous" and "practice" with "activity", underscoring the horror associated with the action.

shocking method

Replaces "dreadful" with "shocking" and "practice" with "method", focusing on the surprise and disapproval of the technique.

abominable procedure

Replaces "dreadful" with "abominable" and "practice" with "procedure", highlighting the detestable nature of the process.

appalling routine

Substitutes "dreadful" with "appalling" and "practice" with "routine", indicating a consistently shocking behavior.

unacceptable habit

Replaces "dreadful" with "unacceptable" and "practice" with "habit", focusing on the disapproval of the behavior.

FAQs

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

You can use "dreadful practice" to describe something considered very bad or harmful. For instance: "The company’s decision to cut corners on safety measures is a "dreadful practice" that endangers employees."

What are some alternatives to "dreadful practice"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "terrible habit", "awful custom", or "atrocious behavior".

What makes "dreadful practice" different from "bad habit"?

"Dreadful practice" implies a more severe and harmful action compared to "bad habit", which typically refers to less serious, personal behaviors. The former suggests widespread negative consequences.

Is "dreadful practice" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "dreadful practice" is appropriate for formal writing when describing severely negative behaviors or actions. It maintains a professional tone while conveying strong disapproval.