how dreadful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how dreadful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong feeling of dismay or horror about a situation or event. Example: "When I heard the news of the disaster, I couldn't help but exclaim, how dreadful!"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

How dreadful".

The Guardian - Opinion

How dreadful, she replied.

The New York Times - Arts

How dreadful for the nation".

The Guardian

Just how dreadful has their defense been?

The New York Times - Sports

"How dreadful for you!" friends said.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Oh no," she says, "How dreadful".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He still doesn't realise how dreadful things are.

The Guardian

How dreadful mud appears right over your snow-white shorts!

The Guardian - Sport

How dreadful to deprive them of all that.

The Guardian - Books

We can't imagine how dreadful, how terrifying war is — and how normal it becomes.

The New Yorker

Team America: World Police features a whole song about how dreadful one of his films was.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how dreadful" to express strong disapproval or dismay, particularly when reacting to unfortunate or negative news or events. It's suitable for both spoken and written contexts where you want to convey a sense of something being extremely unpleasant or regrettable.

Common error

While "how dreadful" is widely understood, it can sound overly dramatic or theatrical in formal writing. Opt for more neutral or professional alternatives like "how unfortunate" or "how regrettable" to maintain a balanced tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "how dreadful" is to express a strong emotional reaction, typically dismay, disapproval, or shock. Ludwig AI shows its use in exclamatory sentences, highlighting its role in conveying heightened feelings about a situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "how dreadful" serves as a potent expression of dismay or disapproval, often used in response to unfortunate or negative events. While grammatically sound and widely understood, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, its use should be considered in light of the context. For formal writing, alternatives such as "how regrettable" or "how unfortunate" may be more appropriate. Given its frequent appearance in news and media sources, it maintains a neutral register suitable for general communication, though careful consideration should be given to avoid sounding overly dramatic in professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how terrible

Emphasizes the severity or unpleasantness of a situation.

how awful

Indicates a strong feeling of dislike or disgust.

how horrible

Highlights the shocking or appalling nature of something.

how appalling

Stresses the outrage or shock caused by something.

how shocking

Focuses on the surprising and disturbing aspect.

how alarming

Indicates a cause for concern or fear.

how regrettable

Expresses sorrow or disappointment about a situation.

how unfortunate

Emphasizes the bad luck or negative circumstances.

how tragic

Highlights the sorrowful and often fatal nature of an event.

what a disaster

Describes a situation as a complete failure or catastrophe.

FAQs

How can I use "how dreadful" in a sentence?

You can use "how dreadful" to express strong dismay or negativity about a situation. For example, "How dreadful that the event was cancelled due to the weather!"

What are some alternatives to saying "how dreadful"?

Alternatives include "how terrible", "how awful", or "how unfortunate", depending on the level of formality and the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "how dreadful" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "how dreadful" might sound overly dramatic in formal contexts. Consider using more neutral alternatives like "how regrettable" or "how unfortunate" to maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "how dreadful" and "how terrible"?

Both phrases express negativity, but "how dreadful" often implies a sense of dismay or shock, while "how terrible" focuses more on the severity or unpleasantness of a situation. The choice depends on the specific emotional tone you want to convey.