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
found to be bad
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "found to be bad" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the results of an evaluation or assessment that indicates something is negative or undesirable. Example: "After thorough testing, the product was found to be bad and needed to be recalled."
✓ Grammatically correct
Renewable Energy
News & Media
Brain Informatics
Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science
Geothermal Energy
BMC Cancer
Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science
Wikipedia
Critical Care
British Journal of Cancer
Forbes
Cell Death and Disease
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Nanoscale Research Letters
Chemistry Central Journal
Acta Neuropathologica
BMC Oral Health
Alternative expressions(19)
proved to be inadequate
found to be erroneous
found to be corrupt
found to be faulty
turned out to be insufficient
was found to be lacking
failed to meet requirements
fell short of expectations
was not up to par
proved to be unsatisfactory
proven to be inadequate
revealed to be flawed
deemed to be spurious
found to be poor
found to be wrong
found to be fallacious
found to be mistaken
found to be flawed
deemed to be substandard
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
2 human-written examples
Field test verified that the engine (in use) working condition was found to be bad at maladjustment.
Science
In some cases, thirty per cent of the loans were found to be bad, if not fraudulent, yet the banks packaged and traded them anyway.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
58 human-written examples
In at least 19 states that have such court programs, efforts to settle foreclosure cases have often met with obstacles, including what some judges have found to be bad-faith negotiations by lenders.
News & Media
As a result, more than 25%% of the signals obtained from each of the four subjects, namely subjects 9, 11, 22, and 24 were found to be bad-channel PSD; we ignored all data from these subjects and performed analysis using only the data from the other 21 subjects.
Science
"Today, terror has taken over the country, and there isn't a day that goes by without a Jew being murdered," Mr. Netanyahu said, somewhat exaggerating a situation that Israelis find to be bad enough.
News & Media
And with loneliness found to be as bad for people's health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day �� and being associated with depression, strokes, heart attacks and dementia – it is a serious public health challenge.
News & Media
It's also worth noting that thanks to this auto-updating feature, Google is able to remotely kill any extension that is found to be doing bad things to people's systems.
News & Media
She was found to be in bad enough shape that she was made as seaworthy as possible and sent to Portsmouth for repairs.
Wiki
Family group conferences particularly, were found to be really bad at interacting with people's relationships with their whānau, with their hapu, with their iwi, and even though there are a lot of people there with really good intentions they don't talk to each other.
News & Media
Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) has been found to be a bad prognostic factor in a number of tumours but the reason has not been fully explained.
Science
In our series older age (>60 years) was found to be a bad prognostic factor, either in univariate or multivariate analyses, in terms of OS, DFS, or progression to MM.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "found to be bad", ensure the context clearly indicates who made the finding and the criteria used for the assessment.
Common error
Don't use "found to be bad" without specifying the reasons for the negative assessment. Provide specific details to support the claim and enhance credibility.
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "found to be bad" typically functions as a predicate adjective, describing the state or condition of a subject after an evaluation or discovery. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in diverse contexts, from engine conditions to financial loans.
Frequent in
News & Media
33.3%
Science
33.3%
Wiki
11.1%
Less common in
Renewable Energy
5.6%
Brain Informatics
5.6%
Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science
5.6%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "found to be bad" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a negative evaluation or assessment. As highlighted by Ludwig, it appears in diverse contexts, from scientific research to news reporting. While versatile, it's best practice to provide specific reasons for the negative assessment to avoid vague statements. Related phrases, like "deemed unsatisfactory", offer alternative ways to convey a similar meaning. Overall, it's a useful and acceptable phrase in English writing.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
deemed unsatisfactory
Focuses on the judgment of being not good enough.
determined to be substandard
Highlights a discovered failure to meet required standards.
revealed to be defective
Emphasizes the uncovering of a flaw or imperfection.
proved to be inadequate
Indicates a demonstrated lack of sufficiency or suitability.
discovered to be flawed
Focuses on the finding of imperfections or weaknesses.
ascertained to be deficient
Highlights a formal determination of lacking necessary qualities.
turned out to be poor
Focuses on the result not meeting expectations.
judged to be inferior
Emphasizes the assessment of being lower in quality or value.
established as problematic
Focuses on the recognition and confirmation of problems.
classified as unacceptable
Highlights the categorization of something as not permissible.
FAQs
How can I use "found to be bad" in a sentence?
You can use "found to be bad" to describe the result of an evaluation or assessment. For example, "The engine (in use) working condition was "found to be bad" at maladjustment."
What are some alternatives to "found to be bad"?
Alternatives include "deemed unsatisfactory", "determined to be substandard", or "revealed to be defective" depending on the context.
Is it always necessary to specify who made the finding when using "found to be bad"?
While not always mandatory, specifying the source of the finding (e.g., "the judges found it to be bad", "scientists found it to be bad") adds credibility and context to the statement.
What's the difference between "found to be bad" and "considered bad"?
"Found to be bad" implies a discovery or assessment has been made, whereas "considered bad" suggests a general opinion or perception without necessarily undergoing a formal evaluation.
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
84%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested