how terrible that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how terrible that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express dismay or sorrow about a situation or event. Example: "How terrible that so many people lost their homes in the disaster."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

In "Groundhog Day," Bill Murray's character illustrates first how terrible that possibility could be, then transforms himself to embrace it.

The New York Times - Style

He knew that his generation's mission would be to rid the country of Arabs, and he also knew how terrible that would be.

The New Yorker

How terrible that The New York Times would permit such an item, filled with despair and pain, to appear in its first Sunday edition of the 21st century.

The New York Times

"I can't even explain to you how terrible that feels, that I equate dating a woman with punishment, shame, guilt, disappointment, reproach, reprimand, persecution.

The New York Times - Arts

But I think a measure of how terrible that time was is that we are now fifteen or sixteen years away from it and we have still not quite had the nerve to get back together in the rehearsal room as playwright and director".

The New Yorker

What my mother wanted — which was to undergo any treatment, no matter how terrible, that promised a cure for her disease — would probably have been viewed skeptically by a physician schooled in what Groopman calls the "bean counting" of evidence-based medicine.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

I remember in Sarajevo in the summer of 1993 a Bosnian friend telling me ruefully that in 1991, when she saw on her TV set the footage of Vukovar utterly leveled by the Serbs, she thought to herself, How terrible, but that's in Croatia, that can never happen here in Bosnia..

The New York Times - Magazine

How terrible would that be?

Huffington Post

Oh how terrible for that person, who has such and such circumstances, how lucky am I.

Huffington Post

How terrible was that?

The Guardian - Sport

(How terrible would that be, Comcast finally getting into the New York cable market by buying Time Warner? If you think Time Warner stinks now!).

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how terrible that" to express strong feelings of dismay, disappointment, or regret about a particular situation or event. It's effective when you want to convey a negative emotional reaction.

Common error

Avoid using "how terrible that" in highly formal or professional writing where a more neutral or objective tone is expected. Opt for alternatives like "it is unfortunate that" or a factual statement of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how terrible that" functions primarily as an exclamatory expression or rhetorical device to emphasize a feeling of dismay, disappointment, or regret. This is supported by Ludwig's examples where the phrase prefaces statements expressing negative sentiments about specific situations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "how terrible that" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express dismay, disappointment, or regret. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, with a neutral to informal register. Ludwig's analysis confirms its role as an exclamatory expression conveying emotional reactions. While acceptable in general writing, it's best to avoid it in highly formal contexts, opting for more objective alternatives. Consider using synonyms like "how unfortunate that" or "how awful that" to vary your expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how awful that

Substitutes "terrible" with "awful", maintaining a similar level of negativity.

it's unfortunate that

Similar to "how unfortunate that", but with a slightly different structure.

how sad that

Replaces "terrible" with "sad", focusing on the emotional impact of the situation.

how disappointing that

Replaces "terrible" with "disappointing", highlighting the failure to meet expectations.

how unfortunate that

Replaces "terrible" with "unfortunate", softening the expression of dismay.

it's too bad that

Provides a more casual way of expressing disappointment or regret.

it's a shame that

Offers a more idiomatic alternative, expressing disappointment or disapproval.

what a pity that

Uses "pity" to convey a feeling of sorrow or regret about the situation.

how regrettable that

Uses "regrettable" instead of "terrible", emphasizing a sense of sorrow or disappointment.

what a tragedy that

Emphasizes the gravity of the situation, suggesting a deeply unfortunate or sorrowful event.

FAQs

How can I use "how terrible that" in a sentence?

You can use "how terrible that" to express dismay or regret about a situation. For example, "How terrible that so many people lost their homes in the disaster" or "How terrible that the event was canceled at the last minute".

What are some alternatives to "how terrible that"?

You can use alternatives like "how unfortunate that", "how awful that", or "how sad that" depending on the specific context and the level of formality required.

Is "how terrible that" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "how terrible that" might be perceived as too informal or emotionally charged for some formal contexts. Consider using more neutral alternatives like "it is regrettable that" or stating the unfortunate fact directly.

What's the difference between "how terrible that" and "it's terrible that"?

"How terrible that" is typically used as an exclamation or expression of strong emotion, while "it's terrible that" is a more declarative statement. The former emphasizes the speaker's emotional reaction, while the latter simply acknowledges the negative nature of the situation.