got poor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "got poor" is not standard in written English and may be considered incorrect.
It can be used informally to describe a change in financial status, but it is better to use more standard expressions. Example: "After losing his job, he got poor quickly and struggled to make ends meet."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

"When we married, we got poor together," he said.

The New York Times

XFL games got poor television ratings after a promising start.

The New York Times

Poor whites — you got poor white men, families, send their sons to service and gotten massacred.

The New Yorker

He was also sacked four times but got poor protection on some of them.

The New York Times - Sports

And no application developer ever got poor writing to Apple's software platforms.

The Economist

But "instead of getting settled," my mother said, "we got poor".

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Under his leadership, Belarus has got poorer.

The Economist

When we married, we got poorer together.

The New York Times

That's because the country got poorer.

The Guardian

"When he promised to fight poverty, we got poorer.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, almost everyone got poorer.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "got poor" is understandable, opt for more formal and precise alternatives like "became impoverished" or "fell into poverty" in professional or academic writing to enhance clarity and credibility.

Common error

Avoid using "got poor" repeatedly in formal texts. Vary your language by using synonyms such as "became impoverished", "fell into poverty", or "became destitute" to maintain a sophisticated and engaging tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "got poor" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating a change in financial status. It's used to express that someone's economic condition has declined, leading to a state of poverty, according to Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "got poor" is an acceptable, though informal, way to describe a decline in financial status. While readily understood, more formal alternatives like "became poor" or "fell into poverty" are generally preferred in professional and academic settings. Ludwig's analysis indicates that this phrase, while used, is more prevalent in news and media contexts. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, using more precise language enhances clarity and credibility in formal writing. Therefore, while "got poor" is not incorrect, writers should consider the context and audience when choosing between it and its more formal counterparts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fell into poverty

Describes the process of becoming poor, suggesting a downward trajectory.

became impoverished

Formal alternative indicating a state of poverty.

became indigent

Formal term describing someone lacking the means of subsistence.

became destitute

Implies a state of extreme poverty, lacking basic necessities.

ran out of money

Simple, direct expression of having no money left.

lost their wealth

Indicates a loss of previously held riches or assets.

lost everything

Indicates a complete loss of possessions and financial stability.

experienced financial hardship

A more general term for economic difficulties, not necessarily complete poverty.

suffered economic decline

Focuses on the economic circumstances that led to poverty.

went bankrupt

Refers to a legal declaration of inability to pay debts.

FAQs

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

You can use "got poor" to describe a change in someone's financial situation, such as, "After the factory closed, many families in the town "got poor"."

What are some alternatives to "got poor"?

Alternatives include "became poor", "fell into poverty", or "became impoverished", which are generally more formal and preferred in writing.

Is it grammatically correct to say "got poor"?

While understandable, "got poor" is considered less formal. It's grammatically acceptable in informal contexts, but "became poor" is a more standard and grammatically sound alternative.

What's the difference between "got poor" and "became poor"?

"Got poor" is more colloquial, whereas "became poor" is more formal. In formal writing, "became poor" is generally preferred for its greater precision and grammatical correctness.