i was dreadful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was dreadful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that you felt or performed poorly in a particular situation or context. Example: "After my presentation, I felt that I was dreadful and could have done much better."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I was dreadful at it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I'm dreadful".

The Guardian - Books

Here are some of the ways in which I am dreadful.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

My wife's a great cook but I'm dreadful so she rarely gets her dinner made by me, which is terrible, I know.

Independent

I'm dreadful with death I hate listening to people give people diagnoses particularly cancer diagnoses for some reason and I sit and look shut off and I stand in the background".

BMC Medical Education

I thought it was dreadful".

The Guardian

CLAPPER: I thought it was dreadful; that was unconscionable.

Harvard University

I thought it was dreadful". Public intellectuals can come in the role of the helpful clarifier or the challenging provocateur.

The Guardian

I haven't been there for a few years now but last time I went the atmosphere was dreadful.

BBC

Sakes alive, I was always dreadful at arithmetic....".

The New Yorker

In 1965 I auditioned for Donald McKayle's company, and I was absolutely dreadful.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To sound more emphatic, intensify the adjective with words like 'absolutely' or 'completely' (e.g. 'I was absolutely dreadful'). This adds impact and emphasizes the severity of the poor performance.

Common error

While "dreadful" is a valid word, avoid overusing it in formal writing. Consider using more precise and professional alternatives like "substandard", "inadequate", or "unsatisfactory" to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "i was dreadful" functions as a subjective expression of personal assessment. It's an assertion about one's own performance or state of being, utilizing a past tense verb and an adjective to convey a negative quality. The Examples or Ludwig AI shows its common usage in expressing disappointment or self-criticism.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "i was dreadful" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to convey strong feelings of inadequacy or poor performance. Ludwig AI indicates that while versatile, it's most frequently found in News & Media, Academia and Science and it has neutral to informal register. When using it, consider the context and audience, opting for more formal alternatives in professional settings like "my performance was substandard". It's useful for expressing self-criticism, but remember to balance it with more objective language when necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

i performed terribly

Replaces "dreadful" with a more direct synonym, focusing on the act of performing poorly.

i did a horrible job

Emphasizes the poor quality of work done.

i was absolutely awful

Intensifies the feeling of being bad or inadequate.

i was completely inept

Highlights a lack of skill or ability.

i made a mess of things

Focuses on the negative outcome resulting from one's actions.

i wasn't up to par

Implies not meeting the required standard or expectation.

i fell short of expectations

Highlights the failure to meet anticipated goals or standards.

i really messed up

Informal expression indicating a significant error or failure.

my performance was substandard

More formal way to express the quality was below average.

i was a disaster

Expresses complete failure or a very negative outcome.

FAQs

What does "i was dreadful" mean?

The phrase "i was dreadful" means that you performed very poorly or felt extremely inadequate in a particular situation. It expresses a strong sense of self-criticism or disappointment with your own actions.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "i was dreadful"?

It is appropriate to use the phrase "i was dreadful" in informal or personal contexts where you want to express strong self-criticism. It's suitable for narratives, reflections, or casual conversations.

What are some alternatives to "i was dreadful"?

You can use alternatives like "i performed terribly", "i did a horrible job", or "i was completely inept" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it okay to say "i was dreadful" in a professional setting?

While the phrase is grammatically correct, it's often too informal and self-critical for professional settings. Instead, opt for more professional terms like "my performance was substandard" or "i fell short of expectations".