Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
felt not well
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase 'felt not well' is not grammatically correct and is not a phrase typically used in written English.
You can use the phrase 'felt unwell' to express the same meaning. For example, "John felt unwell so he decided to stay home from work".
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Wiki
Alternative expressions(20)
felt unwell
didn't feel well
felt sick
felt poorly
felt ill
was feeling under the weather
experienced discomfort
felt not very
felt not quite
assumed not well
considered not well
expected not well
felt not understood
felt inadequately
felt few
felt shortly
thought out not well
failed to live up to expectations
did not go as planned
expected shortly
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
3 human-written examples
But recent two years, I felt not well in my work.
News & Media
Hello, Evin When media published some offensive news about Joe or other NBA players, I often felt not well.
News & Media
They felt not well enough equipped in comparison with specialists to handle this problem.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
57 human-written examples
"I started to feel not well when I came here," Kvitova, who was given a bye into the second round as the top seed, said.
News & Media
The main difficulties in a choice of statistical method are that patient is not sure to visit Clinics with definite intervals or in the days when he feels not well; quite the reverse- he prefers then to stay at home.
Just because you feel pregnant and not well.
Wiki
They feel it's not well-executed.
News & Media
"I have not felt this well in years," the patient said.
News & Media
You have to work when you don't feel well and not producing what everyone expects.
News & Media
And how does that make you feel? "Well, not great.
News & Media
I feel well not talking about it.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Avoid using the phrase "felt not well" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "felt unwell" or "didn't feel well" to ensure clarity and professionalism.
Common error
The common mistake is the placement of "not" after "felt" and before "well". English grammar typically requires the negative particle "not" to be part of an auxiliary verb phrase (e.g., "did not feel") rather than directly modifying the adjective "well".
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "felt not well" functions as a descriptor of a physical or emotional state, indicating that someone experienced a sensation of illness or discomfort. However, the word order is grammatically unconventional. Ludwig AI highlights that while the phrase is present in some contexts, it's advised to use grammatically correct alternatives.
Frequent in
News & Media
33%
Science
33%
Wiki
33%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "felt not well" appears in a variety of sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect and suggests using alternatives such as "felt unwell" or "didn't feel well". The phrase aims to express a subjective feeling of being in poor health and is mostly found in news, scientific, and Wiki contexts. For formal writing, it is best to avoid this phrase and opt for a grammatically correct alternative.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
felt unwell
Replaces the unidiomatic "not well" with the standard adjective "unwell".
felt sick
Uses the common and direct term "sick" to indicate a feeling of illness.
didn't feel well
Corrects the grammar by placing "didn't" before "feel", a more conventional structure.
felt poorly
Uses the adverb "poorly" to describe the feeling, although less common than "unwell".
felt ill
Replaces "not well" with the more formal synonym "ill".
was feeling under the weather
Introduces an idiom to describe feeling slightly unwell.
wasn't feeling myself
Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate a general feeling of being unwell or not normal.
felt out of sorts
Implies a feeling of being generally unwell or not in good condition.
felt weak
Indicates a feeling of physical weakness, a potential symptom of illness.
experienced discomfort
Uses a more formal term to describe feeling physical unease.
FAQs
What is a grammatically correct alternative to "felt not well"?
A grammatically correct alternative is "felt unwell". You can also use "didn't feel well".
When is it appropriate to use "felt not well"?
While the phrase appears in various sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's best to avoid it in formal writing and opt for more standard alternatives.
What does "felt not well" mean?
The phrase "felt not well" means that someone experienced a sensation of being ill, sick, or generally in poor health. However, the grammar is incorrect.
Is there a difference between "felt unwell" and "didn't feel well"?
The phrases "felt unwell" and "didn't feel well" are quite similar in meaning. "Felt unwell" is more concise, while "didn't feel well" is more explicit in its negation. Both are grammatically sound.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested