get painful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "get painful" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward or unclear.
It could be used in contexts where you want to express that something is becoming painful or causing pain, but it is better to use more conventional phrasing. Example: "As the workout progressed, my muscles began to get painful, making it hard to continue."

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

If you get painful shin splints (pain along the front of your shins when you run), you may be over-pronating (landing with most of your weight on the outer side of your foot).

WikiHow

This was where it began to get painful.

The Guardian - Opinion

She will just feel an odd pressure, which may get painful for her.

The Guardian - Travel

People get painful hangovers, the heartbreaks are real if overly dramatic and the cast members have to live with their decisions.

The New York Times

"Free-swimming" is, however, the operative phrase there: If you get careless while trying to untangle one from a net, or you let one flop around the bottom of the boat, things can get painful.

The New York Times

It's a big decision, because once you leave for camp one, you're stuck with your choice all week: too much room and you can get painful blisters on the ends of your toes; too small and your race could be over.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Democrats say the new enrolment figures show that Obamacare is at last getting past its painful birth pangs.

The Economist

"It was getting painful.

The New Yorker

"It just slowly started getting painful and then more painful".

The New Yorker

The half-marathon gets painful early and stays that way".

The New York Times - Sports

Getting painful sunburn, just once every two years, can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical sensations, consider using more specific verbs like "ache", "throb", or "burn" to provide a clearer picture of the pain.

Common error

Avoid using "get painful" too frequently, especially when more descriptive verbs can enhance the writing. Over-reliance on "get" can make the writing sound less sophisticated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "get painful" functions as a linking verb ("get") followed by an adjective ("painful"). Ludwig AI indicates this is a less common phrasing, with the verb "get" indicating a change of state, describing something becoming painful. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing physical sensations and emotional states.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "get painful" is an acceptable but not ideal way to describe something becoming painful. Ludwig AI considers it a less common phrasing, suggesting that alternatives such as "become painful" or "start to hurt" may be preferable in more formal contexts. While the phrase is understandable, using more descriptive language can enhance clarity and sophistication in writing. As shown by Ludwig, it appears more frequently in news and wiki contexts, implying a somewhat informal register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become painful

Replaces "get" with "become" for a more formal and common phrasing.

grow painful

Replaces "get" with "grow" to indicate a gradual increase in pain.

start to hurt

Uses "hurt" as the verb to describe the onset of pain.

turn painful

Uses "turn" to suggest a transformation into a painful state.

begin to ache

Substitutes "ache" for a specific type of pain.

feel painful

Emphasizes the sensation of pain.

develop pain

Focuses on the development of pain as a condition.

experience pain

Highlights the act of undergoing pain.

cause pain

Shifts the focus to the source of the pain.

induce pain

Implies a deliberate action causing pain.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "get painful"?

Instead of "get painful", you can use alternatives like "become painful", "start to hurt", or "grow painful" to make your writing more precise.

Is it grammatically incorrect to say "get painful"?

While not strictly incorrect, "get painful" isn't the most elegant phrasing. It's more common and stylistically preferable to use "become painful" or "start hurting".

How can I use "get painful" in a sentence?

You can use "get painful" to describe a gradual increase in pain, such as, "If you don't stretch before exercising, your muscles might get painful."

When is it best to avoid using the phrase "get painful"?

It's better to avoid "get painful" in formal writing or when more descriptive verbs (like "ache", "throb", or "burn") can provide a clearer and more vivid description of the sensation.