has been a disaster

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been a disaster" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or event that has gone very wrong or has had negative consequences over a period of time. Example: "The project has been a disaster from the start, leading to significant delays and budget overruns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It has been a disaster," claimed Hicks.

Independent

Grant, however, has been a disaster.

Independent

He has been a disaster.

The New York Times - Sports

"This has been a disaster".

The New York Times

Training has been a disaster.

The New York Times

"Help-wanted has been a disaster".

The New York Times

The Colts' season has been a disaster.

The New York Times - Sports

But this month has been a disaster.

The New York Times - Sports

"Taft has been a disaster for Ohio.

The New York Times

His privatization of parking meters has been a disaster.

The New York Times

From a shareholder's perspective Suzlon has been a disaster.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context when using this phrase. While widely accepted, "has been a disaster" can be seen as overly negative in some situations. In such cases, consider alternative phrases like "has been challenging" or "has not met expectations".

Common error

Avoid using "has been a disaster" as a vague generalization. Always provide concrete evidence or examples to support your claim. Without specific details, the statement may lack credibility and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been a disaster" functions as a subject complement, describing the state or condition of the subject. It serves to attribute a negative quality to the noun or situation being discussed. According to Ludwig AI, it's usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0.1%

Wiki

0.1%

Reference

0.1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been a disaster" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something that has gone seriously wrong. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While it's widely accepted, it's best to provide specific details to support your statement and consider the context to avoid being overly negative. Alternatives like "has been a failure" or "has not gone according to plan" can be used in more formal situations. Remember to avoid using the phrase as a vague generalization to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been a catastrophe

Replaces "disaster" with "catastrophe", intensifying the degree of failure or negative impact.

has been a failure

Substitutes "disaster" with "failure", providing a more general term for lack of success.

has turned into a debacle

Replaces "has been a disaster" with "has turned into a debacle", emphasizing a complete and ignominious failure.

has proven to be a fiasco

Employs "fiasco" instead of "disaster", highlighting a ludicrous or humiliating failure.

has been a complete letdown

Replaces "disaster" with "complete letdown", focusing on the disappointment caused by the failure.

has been an utter mess

Uses "utter mess" in place of "disaster", conveying a state of extreme disorganization and failure.

has been a resounding flop

Substitutes "disaster" with "resounding flop", stressing the comprehensiveness and obviousness of the failure.

has been a major setback

Replaces "disaster" with "major setback", focusing on the hindrance to progress caused by the failure.

has not gone according to plan

A more indirect way of expressing failure, indicating deviation from the intended outcome.

has been far from successful

Emphasizes the lack of success without directly using negative terms like "disaster" or "failure".

FAQs

How can I use "has been a disaster" in a sentence?

You can use "has been a disaster" to describe a situation or event that has gone very wrong or had negative consequences. For example, "The project "has been a disaster" from the start, leading to significant delays and budget overruns."

What can I say instead of "has been a disaster"?

You can use alternatives like "has been a failure", "has turned into a debacle", or "has proven to be a fiasco" depending on the context.

Is it too strong to use "has been a disaster" in formal writing?

While "has been a disaster" is generally acceptable, it can be perceived as strong. In formal contexts, consider using more neutral alternatives like "has not gone according to plan" or "has been far from successful" to maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "has been a disaster" and "has been a disappointment"?

"Has been a disaster" implies a more significant failure with serious negative consequences, while "has been a disappointment" suggests that something did not meet expectations but wasn't necessarily catastrophic. The choice depends on the severity of the situation you're describing.