how foolish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how foolish" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a judgment about someone's actions or decisions, indicating that they are unwise or lacking in common sense. Example: "He thought he could win the game without practicing; how foolish of him!"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

How foolish, of course.

The New York Times

How foolish they all seem.

The Economist

How foolish was that?

The New York Times

"How foolish of you...

The New York Times

How foolish I am.

The Guardian - Sport

JE: How foolish of you.

The New York Times - Arts

How foolish such predictions look now.

The New York Times

Jed understands, dimly, how foolish this is.

The New York Times

How foolish to have shut him up.

The New York Times - Arts

How foolish of me to think otherwise.

The New York Times

How foolish she ought to feel today!

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how foolish" to express a sense of regret or realization about a past action or decision, either by yourself or someone else. It's most effective when highlighting a clear lack of foresight or wisdom in retrospect.

Common error

While generally acceptable, excessive use of "how foolish" in highly formal writing can sound slightly informal or overly emotional. Consider using alternatives like "how unwise" or "how imprudent" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how foolish" functions primarily as an exclamatory expression to convey a sense of regret, irony, or realization that an action or thought was ill-considered. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in both self-reflection and external judgment. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "how foolish" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression for conveying regret, irony, or recognition of a lack of wisdom. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as an exclamatory phrase and is found commonly in news and media contexts, though also present in academic and encyclopedia sources. While versatile, its formality might not be suitable for all academic contexts, where alternatives like "how unwise" could be preferred. Overall, "how foolish" is a valuable phrase to express critical hindsight. Ludwig's AI analysis supports this assessment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how unwise

Replaces "foolish" with a synonym emphasizing a lack of wisdom.

how silly

Substitutes "foolish" with a more lighthearted and less severe term.

how naive

Suggests a lack of experience or understanding.

how short-sighted

Focuses on the lack of long-term thinking.

how imprudent

Highlights a lack of caution and careful consideration.

how misguided

Emphasizes being led in the wrong direction or having the wrong idea.

how senseless

Conveys a lack of reason or purpose.

how irrational

Highlights a departure from logical thinking.

what a mistake

Shifts the focus to the error itself rather than the characteristic of being foolish.

what was I thinking

Expresses retrospective regret and self-reproach.

FAQs

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

You can use "how foolish" to express a sense of regret or irony about a past action. For example, "How foolish of me to think otherwise!" or "How foolish it was to ignore the warnings."

What's the difference between "how foolish" and "how unwise"?

"How foolish" and "how unwise" are similar, but "how foolish" often implies a lack of common sense or foresight, while "how unwise" suggests a lack of judgment or prudence. "How unwise" might be more appropriate in formal settings.

What can I say instead of "how foolish" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "how imprudent", "how short-sighted", or "how ill-advised". These options convey a similar meaning with a more sophisticated vocabulary.

Is it correct to say "how foolish of me" or "how foolish I am"?

Both "how foolish of me" and "how foolish I am" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the specific context and the desired emphasis. "How foolish of me" is often used to express regret about a specific action, while "how foolish I am" is a more general statement of self-assessment.