he is terrible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he is terrible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a negative opinion about someone's abilities, behavior, or performance in a specific context. Example: "In his last performance, he is terrible, and the audience was not impressed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But he has now proved to everyone that he is terrible.

The Guardian - Sport

"I have known him through all his incarnations: extremely long hair, short bleach-blond hair, bald head and his current relatively normal do," she says before adding, "But he is terrible at following directions, and has lost cars in multistorey carparks many a time".

The Guardian

It doesn't matter that he is terrible at his job: when Richie describes rock'n'roll as something that "makes you wanna dance or fuck and go out and kick somebody's ass," Julie gets it – and we all need a friend like that.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In the wrong role, when he is bad he is terrible.

Huffington Post

When Lois confronts Peter about the mess he is making in their house, he says he is terrible at housework.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

You need to let the person being interviewed explain why he is terrible, which is more easily done when he thinks you are stupid or on his side.

Vice

"He was terrible.

The New York Times

He was terrible on television.

The New Yorker

He was terrible to women.

The New Yorker

He was terrible at financial management.

The New York Times

"He was terrible," she said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of the situation. While "he is terrible" is generally acceptable, more formal contexts might benefit from alternatives like "he is inadequate" or "he is deficient".

Common error

Avoid using "he is terrible" without providing specific examples or context. A vague statement lacks impact and can be perceived as unfair or unfounded. Always provide supporting evidence or clear reasoning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he is terrible" functions as a subject complement, where "terrible" is an adjective that describes the subject "he". As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a grammatically sound and commonly used construction for expressing a negative evaluation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he is terrible" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression for conveying a negative opinion. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, though formality should be considered. When employing this phrase, clarity and specific examples are essential to avoid ambiguity. Consider using alternatives like "he is awful" or "he is dreadful" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he's awful

Replaces "terrible" with a more informal synonym.

he is dreadful

Substitutes "terrible" with a slightly stronger, more formal term.

he is no good

Offers a more general assessment of worthlessness or incompetence.

he is completely inept

Emphasizes a total lack of skill or ability.

he is utterly incompetent

Similar to inept, but with a stronger emphasis on lacking necessary qualifications.

he's a disaster

Uses a metaphorical term to describe the person's negative impact or performance.

he is a failure

Directly states the person's lack of success.

he's just the worst

Uses hyperbole for emphasis, expressing strong dislike or disapproval.

he is sub-par

Indicates performance below an expected standard.

he falls short

Suggests that the individual does not meet requirements or expectations.

FAQs

What does "he is terrible" mean?

The phrase "he is terrible" expresses a strong negative opinion about someone, indicating they are very bad at something, behave poorly, or are generally unpleasant. The specific meaning depends on the context.

What can I say instead of "he is terrible"?

You can use alternatives like "he is awful", "he is dreadful", or "he is no good" depending on the context and the desired level of formality.

Is it appropriate to use "he is terrible" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "he is terrible" may be too informal for some formal writing contexts. Consider using alternatives that convey a similar meaning but with a more professional tone, such as "he is inadequate" or "he is deficient".

How to use "he is terrible" in a sentence?

You can use "he is terrible" to express a negative judgment. For example, "He is terrible at managing his time", or "His behavior is terrible towards his colleagues".