especially bad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "especially bad" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to emphasize the severity or intensity of something that is already considered bad. Example: The weather was especially bad today, with strong winds and heavy rain causing widespread power outages.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This year seems especially bad.

The Economist

"Something especially bad," Molly said.

The New Yorker

Last year was especially bad.

The New York Times

Were the British especially bad?

Independent

Roads and airports are especially bad.

The Economist

The situation in Texas is especially bad.

The New York Times

Old habits, especially bad ones, die hard.

The New York Times

But the bad stuff was especially bad.

The Guardian - Sport

I feel especially bad about our waiter.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It's especially bad here," she said.

The New York Times

"They were especially bad after rainstorms".

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something as "especially bad", provide specific details or examples to support your claim and avoid vague generalizations.

Common error

Avoid using "especially bad" excessively, as it can dilute the impact. Reserve it for situations where the negativity is genuinely significant and requires emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "especially bad" functions as an adjectival phrase, where the adverb "especially" modifies the adjective "bad". It serves to intensify the degree or severity of something negative, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "especially bad" is a common and grammatically correct adjectival phrase used to emphasize the severity of a negative situation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and shows its use across varied contexts, primarily in News & Media, Wiki, and Academic sources. When using "especially bad", it's best to provide specific details to support the claim and avoid overuse to maintain its impact. Consider alternatives like "particularly awful" or "exceptionally terrible" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

particularly awful

Emphasizes the unpleasant or disagreeable nature of something to a notable degree.

exceptionally terrible

Intensifies the severity of something being very bad or unpleasant.

uncommonly dreadful

Emphasizes the unusual and alarming nature of something being very bad.

remarkably poor

Highlights the substandard quality of something in a way that is noticeable.

strikingly substandard

Highlights the conspicuously poor or inadequate level of quality.

noticeably worse

Indicates a clear and observable decline or inferiority compared to a previous state or expectation.

acutely negative

Indicates a sharp or intense adverse impact or effect.

significantly inferior

Stresses the considerable lower quality or standard of something.

terribly deficient

Focuses on the severe lack or inadequacy of something.

decidedly unfavorable

Points out the distinctly negative or disadvantageous nature of a situation or outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "especially bad" in a sentence?

Use "especially bad" to emphasize that something is worse than normal. For instance, "The traffic was "especially bad" this morning due to the rain."

What are some alternatives to saying "especially bad"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "particularly awful", "exceptionally terrible", or "remarkably poor".

Is it grammatically correct to say "especially bad"?

Yes, "especially bad" is grammatically correct. "Especially" is an adverb modifying the adjective "bad", indicating a higher degree of negativity.

What's the difference between "especially bad" and "very bad"?

"Especially bad" implies a more significant degree of negativity than "very bad". It suggests that the situation is notably worse than what is typically considered bad.