drive badly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drive badly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone's ability to drive a vehicle. Example Sentence: He drives badly and has been in several car accidents.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

It's a car even I couldn't drive badly.

The Guardian - Tech

And northerners may well think their southern cousins are stumpy, drive badly and chain-smoke.

The Economist

When they both drive badly, they blame their mistakes on each other.

The New Yorker

They argue that car pooling is a good measure of trust: can you trust your fellow travelers not to be late, drive badly or murder you and leave your body in a ditch?

Forbes

"The very first time, they get an email to say they are driving erratically, if they ignore that then they get another email to say you are on probation for 30 days and if they continue to drive badly we increase the premium by £250," he says.

BBC

He said, "I drive badly.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Cheng Lei: "If you see a car being driven badly you know it's bound to be a woman driver behind the wheel".

BBC

(Hey, when I was growing up in upstate New York we thought people from New Jersey drove badly.

Huffington Post

Hill responded that Schumacher "cannot claim anyone drives badly when you look at the things he's been up to in his career.

Wikipedia

Driving is on the left side of the road--surprisingly easy to get used to in a place where no one drives badly or too fast, and there's no way to get very lost.

Los Angeles Times

A second-round draft pick in 2006, Clemens saw his opening drive end badly when he was picked off by safety Ed Reed at the Ravens' 49-yard line.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's driving, be specific about the behaviors that make their driving "badly". For example, mention speeding, tailgating, or failing to signal.

Common error

Avoid using "drive badly" without providing context. Saying someone "drive badly" is subjective; specify what makes their driving poor to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drive badly" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying the verb "drive". It describes the manner in which the action of driving is performed. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a grammatically correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "drive badly" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe poor driving skills. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's perfectly acceptable in written English. Its register is generally neutral, fitting well in news articles and everyday conversation. While specific driving behaviors would paint a more vivid picture, "drive badly" effectively communicates a lack of skill or unsafe practices behind the wheel. Related phrases like "is a poor driver" or "drives erratically" can provide alternative ways to express the same concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is a poor driver

Focuses on the individual's general capability as a driver, rather than a specific instance of bad driving.

is a terrible driver

Emphasizes the severity of the person's bad driving.

drives erratically

Highlights the inconsistency and unpredictability of the driving.

is an unsafe driver

Focuses on the potential danger caused by the person's driving.

handles a vehicle poorly

A more formal way of saying someone "drive badly".

lacks driving skills

Focuses on the absence of necessary skills to be a good driver.

is incompetent behind the wheel

A more emphatic way to describe someone who "drive badly".

can't drive to save their life

An idiomatic expression that emphasizes the degree of poor driving, often humorous.

has poor vehicle control

Highlights the lack of control over the vehicle while driving.

is a menace on the road

Emphasizes that their driving is a threat to others.

FAQs

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

You can use "drive badly" to describe someone's poor driving skills, as in, "He tends to "drive badly" when he's tired."

What's a more formal way of saying someone "drive badly"?

A more formal alternative to "drive badly" is to say someone "handles a vehicle poorly".

Is it better to say "driving badly" or "drive badly"?

The phrase "drive badly" is generally preferred because it's concise and commonly used. "Driving badly" could also work, but it may sound less natural in some contexts.

What are some phrases similar to "drive badly" to describe dangerous driving?

Similar phrases include "drives erratically" or "is an unsafe driver", which emphasize the potential danger caused by the person's driving.