fell badly

USAGE SUMMARY

"fell badly" is correct and usable in written English.
You would use it to describe something that has fallen and encountered a significant amount of damage, pain, or difficulty. Example: "The woman fell badly, breaking her arm in the process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

In another fell line, he played hard on the media and GOP line that Obama fell badly asleep at the wheel on the BP spill, has done little to contain it, and has botched every chance to be the strong, commanding president and rein in the oil giant and the oil industry.

Huffington Post

But the dishes that fell short fell badly.

The New York Times

But China fell badly behind its goal in late 2009 and early last year.

The New York Times

"My opponent fell twice and I fell badly on there [Court No1].

Independent

However, at seven, she fell badly on the beach there, breaking her right arm.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Russell concludes that the university fell badly short of its scientific and public obligations.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Naturally profit has fallen badly as well.

The Guardian

City marshals came and evicted Mr. Lee, who had fallen badly behind in his rent.

The New York Times

Good old-fashioned obsession, on the other hand, has fallen badly out of favor.

The New York Times

We have fallen badly behind over many decades – we must catch up and then pull away.

The Guardian

In short, this popular love story isn't much of a story, and falls badly short on love.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fell badly" to clearly convey that a fall resulted in significant injury, damage, or negative consequences. It adds emphasis beyond simply stating that someone or something fell.

Common error

While "fell badly" is grammatically correct, consider more formal alternatives like "sustained a serious fall" or "suffered significant injuries from the fall" in academic or professional writing to maintain a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fell badly" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying the verb "fell", indicating the manner in which the action occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fell badly" is a grammatically correct and common adverbial phrase used to emphasize the negative consequences of a fall. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is fine for use. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, but also appears in wikis and formal documents. While acceptable in most situations, more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic or professional writing. Remember to use "fell badly" when you want to highlight that a fall resulted in significant injury, damage, or negative outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tumbled severely

Emphasizes the forceful nature of the fall, highlighting the impact.

dropped sharply

Focuses on a rapid decrease or decline, suitable for abstract concepts.

declined significantly

Highlights a notable reduction or deterioration, often in a measurable context.

failed considerably

Shifts the focus to the magnitude of the failure rather than a physical fall.

suffered a serious fall

Emphasizes the negative consequences of the fall, highlighting potential injury.

incurred severe injuries from the fall

Focuses on the resulting physical harm from the fall

deteriorated rapidly

Focuses on a quick and significant decline or worsening of a situation.

plummeted dramatically

Highlights a steep and sudden decline, suggesting a loss of control.

spiraled downward rapidly

Indicates a quick and accelerating decline, often out of control.

went downhill quickly

Emphasizes the speed and negative direction of the decline.

FAQs

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

You can use "fell badly" to describe a fall that results in injury or negative consequences. For example, "She "fell badly" and broke her arm."

What does "fell badly" mean?

"Fell badly" means that someone or something experienced a fall that resulted in significant injury, damage, or negative consequences.

Which is more appropriate, "fell badly" or "fell seriously"?

Both "fell badly" and "fell seriously" are grammatically correct, but "fell badly" emphasizes the negative consequences of the fall, while "fell seriously" focuses on the severity of the fall itself.

What can I say instead of "fell badly"?

You can use alternatives such as "tumbled severely", "dropped sharply", or "suffered a serious fall" depending on the context.