getting poor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "getting poor" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the process of becoming less wealthy or experiencing a decline in financial status. Example: "After losing his job, he found himself getting poor quickly and struggling to make ends meet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"The family was getting poor.

The New York Times - Sports

I'm not alone in getting poor marks.

The New York Times

More people are getting poor, the poor are getting poorer".

The Guardian

I'm always haunted by schools that I think are getting poor results.

The New York Times

This indicates, I think, an elderly woman who's getting poor advice".

The Guardian - Books

Grass-roots voter registration drives play an important role in getting poor and minority voters registered.

The New York Times

But Tray is "the brain of the bunch," and good at getting poor dumb Babo to fetch her blueberry pie.

The New York Times

Getting poor women tickets to fashion shows, so that they will feel less poor for a few minutes.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Not getting enough sleep or getting poor-quality sleep adversely affects hormones that make you hungry and store fat.

HuffPost

That was the Southern Strategy that served the GOP for decades--getting poor and working class whites to vote against their economic interests by convincing them that government programs mean unfair benefits to black people.

Huffington Post

Writing in 1987 another Nobelist, Robert Lucas, noted: "The consequences for human welfare involved in questions like [getting poor countries to grow faster than rich ones] are simply staggering: Once one starts to think about them, it is hard to think about anything else".Economists tweaked their models, deploying new notions such as that of human capital to try and explain the persistent divide.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a gradual process of financial decline, use "getting poor" to convey a sense of ongoing change.

Common error

In formal writing, consider using more precise terms like "experiencing financial decline" or "becoming impoverished" instead of "getting poor" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "getting poor" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as the subject or part of the verb phrase in a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes an ongoing action or process of financial decline. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "getting poor" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to describe the process of becoming less wealthy. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While versatile, it is most frequently found in news and media contexts. For formal or professional writing, consider opting for alternatives such as "experiencing financial decline" or "becoming impoverished" to enhance clarity and sophistication. Remember that "getting poor" emphasizes the ongoing process of losing wealth, as distinct from the state of already "being poor".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becoming impoverished

Focuses on the state of being reduced to poverty.

falling into poverty

Emphasizes the action of entering a state of poverty.

experiencing financial decline

Highlights the negative change in financial status.

losing wealth

Focuses on the reduction of assets and riches.

dwindling resources

Emphasizes the scarcity of available means.

becoming destitute

Highlights the state of utter poverty and lack of resources.

suffering economic hardship

Focuses on the difficulties caused by financial problems.

slipping into debt

Highlights the process of accumulating debt and financial obligations.

facing insolvency

Focuses on the inability to pay debts.

descending into penury

Emphasizes a gradual decline into extreme poverty.

FAQs

How can I use "getting poor" in a sentence?

You can use "getting poor" to describe a gradual decline in financial status, such as, "After the factory closed, many families in the town started "getting poor"."

What are some alternatives to saying "getting poor"?

Instead of "getting poor", you can use phrases like "becoming impoverished", "falling into poverty", or "experiencing financial decline" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "getting poorer" instead of "getting poor"?

Both "getting poor" and "getting poorer" are grammatically acceptable, but "getting poor" is more commonly used to describe the general state of becoming less wealthy while "getting poorer" specifically indicates a comparative change.

What's the difference between "getting poor" and "being poor"?

"Getting poor" describes the process of becoming less wealthy, while "being poor" describes the state of already experiencing poverty.