dreadful skill

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dreadful skill" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a skill that is very poor or lacking in quality. Example: "Despite his efforts, his dreadful skill in painting was evident in every brushstroke."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Bridger's skill as an abattoir worker familiar with knives and as an outdoorsman with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the mountains and valleys around Machynlleth meant he was able to conceal most of April's remains with dreadful skill.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And policymakers are understandably reluctant to cool demand when India needs rapid growth to create jobs and reduce poverty.An alternative to slowing demand is to boost supply by speeding up reforms and attacking the many bottlenecks caused by inadequate infrastructure, dreadful public services, skill shortages and rigid labour laws.

The Economist

"Experts often use their knowledge or skill to do dreadful things".

The New York Times

"It would be a dreadful shame if this acquisition followed form – job losses, investment drain and, worst of all, new technologies and skills ebbing out of our economy.

The Guardian - Business

So then you go ahead and question our abilities to read these books, saying, "I wonder how many teenagers have the emotional skills to handle such dreadful questions".

The Guardian

Years before the dreadful effects of Parkinson's disease ravaged the motor skills of Muhammad Ali, I was able to spend a few precious hours with the champ in 1998 at his former estate in Berrien Springs, Mich.

Los Angeles Times

Dreadful effort.

The New York Times

"Perfectly dreadful.

The New Yorker

How dreadful".

The Guardian - Opinion

Just dreadful!

The Guardian

Dreadful shot.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "dreadful skill", ensure the context clearly indicates the negative impact or consequences of the lack of skill. This can enhance the reader's understanding and emphasize the severity of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "dreadful skill" in highly formal or professional writing where a more neutral term like "limited skill" or "inadequate skill" might be more appropriate. Consider the audience and purpose of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dreadful skill" functions as a noun phrase where "dreadful" is an adjective modifying the noun "skill". It describes the quality of someone's ability, specifically indicating that it is very poor. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, though its usage is rare.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "dreadful skill" is a grammatically correct but infrequently used expression to describe a very poor ability. As noted by Ludwig AI, its usage is rare, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. When writing, consider the impact of the strong negative connotation and whether more common alternatives such as ""poor skill"" or ""lack of skill"" might be more appropriate depending on the context and desired level of formality. While grammatically sound, its rare usage suggests careful consideration before using it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terrible skill

Replaces "dreadful" with a synonym, "terrible", maintaining the same meaning of very poor ability.

atrocious skill

Substitutes "dreadful" with "atrocious", emphasizing the extremely bad quality of the skill.

awful skill

Uses "awful" as a replacement for "dreadful", indicating a very unpleasant or bad skill.

poor skill

Replaces "dreadful" with "poor", offering a more general term for a lack of quality in skill.

lousy skill

Uses "lousy" instead of "dreadful", implying a very low quality or substandard skill.

inadequate skill

Replaces "dreadful" with "inadequate", focusing on the insufficiency of the skill for a particular purpose.

deficient skill

Substitutes "dreadful" with "deficient", highlighting a lack or shortage in the skill.

deplorable skill

Replaces "dreadful" with "deplorable", conveying a sense of strong disapproval due to the poor quality of the skill.

abysmal skill

Uses "abysmal" instead of "dreadful", emphasizing the extremely low or hopeless quality of the skill.

appalling skill

Substitutes "dreadful" with "appalling", highlighting the shocking or terrible nature of the skill.

FAQs

What does "dreadful skill" mean?

The phrase "dreadful skill" refers to a very poor or inadequate level of ability in a particular task or activity. It implies that someone's skill is exceptionally bad or of very low quality.

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

You can use "dreadful skill" to describe someone's lack of proficiency. For example: "Despite his enthusiasm, his "dreadful skill" at cooking made every meal a disaster."

What are some alternatives to "dreadful skill"?

Some alternatives to "dreadful skill" include "poor skill", "terrible skill", "inadequate skill", or "lacking skill". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "dreadful skill" a common phrase?

No, "dreadful skill" is not a very common phrase. Ludwig AI identifies it as rare, so you might consider using a more frequently used alternative like "poor skill" or "lack of skill" to ensure clarity and broader understanding.