got awful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "got awful" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to convey that something has become very bad or unpleasant, but the correct form would be "gotten awful" or "has become awful." Example: "The weather has gotten awful since the storm hit last night."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

They've got awful labor relations.

The New York Times

Mary Dugger's The History of Lesbian Hair got awful reviews online.

Vice

Kevin Chappell was deep into his third round at Pebble Beach last Saturday, heading for a missed cut, when he turned on his phone to check for flights out and got awful news in a text.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

I'm getting awful goddam sick of that word.

The New Yorker

"Living on the street you get awful bored".

The New York Times

The blacks get awful editorials like this that tell them to feel sorry for themselves.

The Washington Post

They put me on steroids and you get all bloated and your skin gets awful.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And it's going to get awful if there isn't a change.

The New York Times - Sports

The show starts at 8 p.m., so you should probably get in line about 7 45 to avoid getting awful seats.

The Washington Post

You are also likely to get awful service, in accordance with some managerial theory that open air obviates courtesy and efficiency.

The New York Times - Food

This could get awful.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using grammatically correct alternatives such as "became awful" or "turned terrible" to ensure clarity and credibility in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "got awful" in formal or academic writing. It's better to use standard English phrases to maintain professionalism and avoid misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "got awful" functions as a descriptive expression, attempting to convey that something has deteriorated or become very unpleasant. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this phrasing is not grammatically correct in standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "got awful" is used to express that something has become very bad, but it's grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI marks it as such. While it appears in some news and media contexts, it's best to avoid it in formal writing or professional communication. Instead, opt for more grammatically sound alternatives like "became terrible" or "turned awful" to ensure clarity and maintain a professional tone. The phrase has a rare frequency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became terrible

Replaces "got awful" with a more standard and widely accepted phrase.

turned awful

Substitutes "got" with "turned" to create a grammatically sound alternative.

became dreadful

Uses a synonym for "awful" to give a similar meaning with correct grammar.

got really bad

Replaces "awful" with "really bad" for a simpler, more direct alternative.

became quite unpleasant

Offers a more formal and nuanced alternative to express the same idea.

deteriorated significantly

Emphasizes the decline in condition with a more formal tone.

worsened considerably

Highlights the increase in severity, using more formal language.

degenerated into something awful

Suggests a process of decline leading to a bad state.

descended into awfulness

Emphasizes the movement toward a state of being awful.

reached an appalling state

Focuses on the final condition being extremely bad or shocking.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "got awful"?

Instead of "got awful", you can use phrases like "became terrible", "turned awful", or "got really bad". These alternatives are grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Is "got awful" grammatically correct?

No, "got awful" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct forms would be "gotten awful" or "has become awful", though alternatives like "became terrible" or "turned awful" are preferable.

When is it appropriate to use "got awful"?

While "got awful" might be used in very informal speech, it is best to avoid it in formal writing or professional communication. Opt for more standard alternatives to ensure clarity and correctness.

What does "got awful" mean?

"Got awful" is intended to mean that something has become very bad or unpleasant. However, it's better to use more precise and grammatically correct phrases to convey this meaning, such as "became dreadful" or "worsened considerably".