equally bad as.

USAGE SUMMARY

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The tribal and military rebels are proposing a national reconciliation conference under international auspices, with all factions invited except for IS and also the Shia militias, which they regard as equally bad as, or worse than, IS.

BBC

"But to throw away food that could be consumed without risk is equally bad as false labelling and cannot be a solution". Meanwhile in French President Francois Hollande visited the annual Farm Show in Paris, in an apparent bid to restore confidence in the French food industry.

BBC

The rejection of what is different, of the foreign, looks equally bad as discrimination and humiliation.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I think we were equally as good or equally as bad as the opposition up until that goal went in because it wasn't a great game.

BBC

Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy: "I think we were equally as good or equally as bad as the opposition up until that goal went in because it wasn't a great game.

BBC

Letting childrens' educational hopes ride on teachers whose jobs are dependents on supporting and campaigning for elected School Boards and/or Superintendents is is an idea equally as bad as not going through the process of firing tenured teachers.

The Economist

But how's this for a link the Reds are having a season equally as bad as his finance company.

Forbes

Forty-five percent say weed is equally as bad as booze, while 36percentt say pot is actually less dangerous.

Huffington Post

Arguing, as the president did last week, that the two are "equally as bad, equally as evil and equally as destructive" -- and that "you can't distinguish between Al Qaeda and Saddam when you talk about the war on terror" -- reinforces widely held misunderstandings about the extraordinary danger of the new religious terrorism.

The New York Times

He's equally bad at both gigs.

The New Yorker

He added that as well as he bowled, he was equally bad at gambling, and that he would promptly blow much of his winnings on bad bets on horse-racing and other sports.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "equally bad as" in formal writing due to its grammatical incorrectness. Instead, opt for grammatically sound alternatives such as "just as bad as" or simply "as bad as".

Common error

A common mistake is to use "equally bad as" when the correct form requires only "as bad as" or "equally as bad". Remember that "equally" modifies the adjective ("bad"), and the comparison is made using "as". Using all three words together is redundant and grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "equally bad as" functions as a comparative conjunction, attempting to equate the degree of negativity between two subjects. Ludwig AI indicates grammatical issues with this construction, recommending alternatives like "as bad as" or "equally as bad" for better grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "equally bad as" is used to equate two subjects in terms of their negative qualities. While encountered in various contexts, particularly in news and media, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests that more appropriate alternatives include "as bad as" or "equally as bad", which maintain the intended meaning while adhering to standard grammar. For formal writing, consider more precise and professional alternatives like "just as detrimental as" or "comparably negative" to avoid any ambiguity. Using "as bad as" or ""equally as bad"" ensures clarity and grammatical correctness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Just as bad as

Replaces "equally" with "just", emphasizing the similarity in negative quality without implying exact equivalence.

As bad as

Simplifies the comparison by omitting "equally", focusing directly on the shared negative quality.

Equally terrible

Replaces "bad as" with "terrible", offering a synonym for "bad" while maintaining the sense of equivalence.

No better than

Expresses that something is not superior to something else, indicating an equivalent level of poorness.

As awful as

Uses "awful" instead of "bad", intensifying the negative comparison while keeping the structure similar.

Equally poor

Substitutes "bad" with "poor", suggesting a substandard quality that is equivalent across different subjects.

On par with

Indicates that something is at the same level of inadequacy or inferiority as something else.

Of equal detriment

Highlights the shared harmfulness or disadvantage of something, maintaining the sense of equivalence.

Comparably negative

Focuses on the comparable negativity between two things, suitable in formal contexts.

Similarly substandard

Emphasizes that two things are similarly below the required or expected standard.

FAQs

What's grammatically correct: "equally bad as" or "as bad as"?

"As bad as" is grammatically correct. "Equally bad as" is often used, but it's considered incorrect. A better alternative is "equally as bad".

How to properly use "equally as bad" in a sentence?

When using "equally as bad", ensure you are comparing two distinct subjects directly. For example: "Lying is "equally as bad" as stealing."

What can I say instead of "equally bad as" to sound more professional?

For a more professional tone, consider using phrases like "just as detrimental as", "no better than", or "comparably negative" depending on the context. The phrase "equally terrible" can also be suitable.

Is there a subtle difference in meaning between "equally bad as" and "as bad as"?

While both phrases indicate a similar level of negativity, "as bad as" is a more direct and grammatically sound comparison. "Equally bad as" isn't grammatically correct but attempts to emphasize the equivalence in negativity, though it's better to use ""equally as bad"" instead.