highly unprofessional

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly unprofessional" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe behavior or actions that are considered to lack professionalism or proper conduct in a work or formal setting. Example: "The way he spoke to the client was highly unprofessional and could damage our reputation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

But it's highly unprofessional not to let me know about it".

The New York Times - Sports

Nick Sakiewicz, general manager of the MetroStars, said yesterday that the action by Chivas was highly unprofessional and that his team would earn a 2-0 forfeit victory.

The New York Times - Sports

"I believe it's highly unprofessional and misleading when a company's results deviate significantly from expectations, but analysts turn a blind eye and continue to tout a stock".

The New York Times

If someone at the office is yelling at you, what should you do? A. Yelling is inappropriate and highly unprofessional, but it happens on occasion.

The New York Times

In searing memos, the judge described Mr. Long's intervention as "uncalled for, unnecessary and highly unprofessional" and issued this stern dictum: "This attitude and conduct must cease at once".

The New York Times

Daniela Bergholdt, a lawyer representing a shareholder advocacy group, accused the management of engineering a disaster and then pursuing what she called a "dilettantish and highly unprofessional" attempt to literally give Rover away.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

It ended with no criminal or misconduct charges being brought against Adams but lists concerns about him, in one instance describing his conduct as highly questionable and unprofessional.

The Guardian

Operation Russell ended with no criminal or misconduct charges being brought against Adams but listed concerns about him, in one instance describing his conduct as highly questionable and unprofessional.

The Guardian

"We are shocked and disappointed by this highly inappropriate and unprofessional conduct," a Vice spokesperson said in a statement.

Huffington Post

A poorly staffed, unprofessional and highly politicized judicial system has been a serious problem in Haiti for decades.

The New York Times

A US Central Command spokesman at the time called the Iranian actions "highly provocative, unsafe and unprofessional" and said they called into question Iran's commitment to the security of a waterway vital to international commerce.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and choose alternatives like "very unprofessional" or "extremely unprofessional" if the situation doesn't warrant such a strong term.

Common error

Avoid using "highly unprofessional" in casual conversations or informal emails, as it can sound overly formal and severe. Opt for simpler terms like "unprofessional" or "inappropriate" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly unprofessional" functions as an adjectival phrase. It's used to modify a noun (often a behavior, action, or decision) to indicate a strong deviation from expected professional standards. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

13.33%

Less common in

Science

6.67%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "highly unprofessional" is a phrase used to describe conduct that significantly deviates from expected professional standards. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's crucial to consider the setting and audience when using it, opting for alternatives like "very unprofessional" in more informal situations. Remember to reserve "highly unprofessional" for scenarios where a severe breach of conduct warrants strong condemnation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely unprofessional

Replaces "highly" with "extremely" offering a slightly stronger emphasis on the lack of professionalism.

very unprofessional

Uses "very" instead of "highly", providing a more common and slightly less formal alternative.

utterly unprofessional

Emphasizes the lack of professionalism to an absolute degree.

completely unprofessional

Highlights that the action or behavior is entirely devoid of professionalism.

thoroughly unprofessional

Indicates a comprehensive lack of professionalism in all aspects.

patently unprofessional

Suggests that the lack of professionalism is obvious and easily apparent.

blatantly unprofessional

Emphasizes the obvious and conspicuous nature of the unprofessionalism.

grossly unprofessional

Indicates a significant or extreme degree of unprofessionalism.

remarkably unprofessional

Highlights the surprising or noteworthy extent of the unprofessionalism.

incredibly unprofessional

Stresses the difficulty in believing how unprofessional something is.

FAQs

How to use "highly unprofessional" in a sentence?

You can use "highly unprofessional" to describe actions or behaviors that significantly deviate from expected professional standards. For example, "His outburst during the meeting was "highly unprofessional" and damaged his reputation".

What are some alternatives to "highly unprofessional"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "very unprofessional", "extremely unprofessional", or "completely unprofessional".

When is it appropriate to use "highly unprofessional"?

It's appropriate when describing conduct that not only fails to meet professional standards but does so to a significant degree, potentially causing harm or damage. Reserve it for serious breaches of conduct.

What's the difference between "unprofessional" and "highly unprofessional"?

"Unprofessional" describes behavior that doesn't meet professional standards, while ""highly unprofessional"" indicates a much more severe deviation from those standards. The latter implies a greater level of misconduct or breach of ethics.