highly poor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly poor" is not correct and is generally not usable in written English.
It is a contradictory expression, as "highly" suggests a positive degree while "poor" indicates a negative state. Example: "The community is highly poor, struggling to meet basic needs."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

This paper evaluates hydrometric networks to identify essential streamflow stations and critical areas (highly poor network density) within major watersheds across the different provinces of Canada using entropy theory.

Journal of Hydrology

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least 30% of countries in the world have either no drug regulation or highly poor capacity to regulate.

Huffington Post

Prognosis of BD-MRI is highly poor and showed corresponding BD pathology independent of AD pathology, and advanced systemic vascular disease at autopsy.

Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Yanukovych presides over a dysfunctional, deeply divided, highly corrupt, extremely poor country positioned pivotally between Russia's western frontier and the EU's eastern flank.

The Guardian

Housing advocates say the directive forced city and county officials to see how often public housing is concentrated in highly segregated, extremely poor neighborhoodswith the worst performing schools and the highest exposure to environmental hazards.

Huffington Post

But Belarus, a highly authoritarian and extremely poor former Soviet republic, had long resisted giving up its nuclear fuel.

The New York Times

When asked to speculate on why patients with lower educational level were given less oncological treatment than highly educated, poor compliance, more prevalent substance abuse, communication difficulties, immigrant status and poorer social networks were offered as possible explanations.

BMJ Open

Until last year, only a few billions of debt had been wiped out under the highly indebted poor countries initiative.

The Guardian - Business

In 1997, when we came to power, only one country had entered the highly indebted poor countries initiative.

The Guardian - Business

The World Bank was offering financial bailouts, but with the condition that countries accepted the humiliating label of "highly indebted poor country".

The Guardian

In a number of highly indebted poor countries, debt relief has freed resources that are then tied to social investment funds.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing poverty or lack of resources, consider using more precise and widely accepted alternatives like "extremely poor" or "severely disadvantaged" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "highly" to intensify negative adjectives like "poor". While "highly" can emphasize positive qualities, it often sounds awkward or unnatural with negative descriptors. Instead, opt for stronger alternatives like "extremely", "severely", or "acutely".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly poor" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, attempting to qualify the degree of poverty. However, according to Ludwig AI, this usage is considered incorrect in standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "highly poor" attempts to convey a significant degree of poverty, it's generally considered grammatically questionable and not standard in English. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's better to use alternatives like "extremely poor", "severely disadvantaged", or "acutely deprived" for clarity and correctness. Although some instances appear in news and scientific contexts, opting for more widely accepted phrases is advisable to avoid ambiguity and ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely impoverished

Emphasizes a severe state of lacking resources, highlighting the depth of poverty.

severely disadvantaged

Focuses on the systemic barriers and inequalities contributing to a lack of opportunity.

acutely deprived

Highlights the intensity and urgency of the lack of essential resources.

terribly destitute

Implies a complete absence of resources and support, emphasizing vulnerability.

deeply underprivileged

Highlights the lack of privilege and social advantages compared to others.

critically lacking

Focuses on the severe deficiency of essential elements or resources.

gravely deficient

Emphasizes the seriousness and extent of the inadequacy.

intensely inadequate

Highlights the significant insufficiency and unsuitability.

badly wanting

Emphasizes a strong need or lack of something essential.

woefully insufficient

Highlights a regrettable and marked lack of something necessary.

FAQs

Is "highly poor" grammatically correct?

The phrase "highly poor" is generally considered grammatically awkward. It's better to use alternatives like "extremely poor" or "severely disadvantaged".

What are some alternatives to "highly poor"?

You can use alternatives like "extremely impoverished", "severely disadvantaged", or "acutely deprived" depending on the specific context.

Which is the correct phrase: "highly poor" or "extremely poor"?

"Extremely poor" is the more standard and grammatically sound phrase. "Highly poor" is less common and can sound unnatural.

In what contexts can I use "highly poor"?

While not generally recommended, "highly poor" might appear in specific technical or regional contexts. However, it's safer to opt for clearer alternatives like "severely disadvantaged" or "extremely impoverished" in most situations.