has been very bad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been very bad" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that has been poor or unfavorable over a period of time. Example: "The weather has been very bad this week, causing several flight cancellations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Business has been very bad lately".

The New Yorker

"For us, this revolution has been very bad," he said.

The New York Times - Magazine

The situation in Turkey has been very bad since a failed coup attempt in 2016.

The Washington Post

"The heat," he said mournfully, "has been very bad, very bad".

The New York Times

"The economy has been very bad, and the merchants do not think that the taxes should increase at all".

The New York Times

"Social media has been very bad and it has turned out like law enforcement is building the pipeline," he said.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

"They've been very bad children".

The Guardian - Film

"It could have been very bad".

The Guardian

"I must have been very bad," she said.

The New York Times

"Things on the ground have been very bad.

The Guardian

It could have been very bad," Gonzales said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been very bad", ensure that the context clearly indicates what "has been very bad". Providing specific details enhances clarity and impact. For example, instead of just stating "Business has been very bad", specify "Business has been very bad due to the recent economic downturn".

Common error

Avoid using "has been very bad" without providing context or specific details. Overgeneralization can weaken your argument and leave the reader wondering what exactly is problematic. Instead of saying "The project has been very bad", clarify with "The project has been very bad due to poor planning and resource allocation."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been very bad" functions as a descriptive expression, typically used to convey a negative assessment of a situation, condition, or behavior. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a grammatically sound way to communicate that something is considerably unfavorable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been very bad" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to describe a negative situation or condition that has persisted over time. While considered acceptable for many contexts, Ludwig AI highlights it can be improved with specific context. Its use is most prevalent in news and media sources, as well as science, and may be seen as somewhat neutral in tone. For professional communications, consider stronger synonyms to more precisely convey the problem.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has taken a turn for the worse

Suggests a sudden and negative change in circumstances.

has suffered a major setback

Indicates a reversal or impediment to progress.

has deteriorated significantly

Focuses on the process of decline or worsening of a situation.

has declined substantially

Focuses on the degree to which something has lessened or weakened.

has reached a critical low

Indicates a bottoming out or severe downturn.

has proven to be quite damaging

Emphasizes the harmful effects of something over time.

has experienced serious degradation

Emphasizes the decline in quality or condition.

has become exceedingly problematic

Highlights the troublesome nature of a situation's evolution.

has proven highly detrimental

Highlights the harmful effect on someone or something.

has gravely impacted

Emphasizes the severe effects on something.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "has been very bad"?

When something "has been very bad", it means that a situation, condition, or experience has been significantly unfavorable, deficient, or of poor quality over a period of time.

What are some alternatives to saying something "has been very bad"?

You can use alternatives like "has deteriorated significantly", "has taken a turn for the worse", or "has become exceedingly problematic" depending on the specific context.

How to use "has been very bad" in a sentence?

You can use "has been very bad" to describe a variety of negative situations. For example, "The weather has been very bad this week", or "The company's performance has been very bad this quarter".

What's the difference between "has been very bad" and "was very bad"?

"Has been very bad" implies that the negative condition has persisted over a period leading up to the present, while "was very bad" refers to a negative condition that occurred in the past and may or may not continue.