ill devised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ill devised" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been poorly planned or thought out. Example: "The project was ultimately unsuccessful due to its ill devised strategy that failed to consider potential obstacles."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Adam's plot to exact revenge on him is so ill devised that it fails to be entirely convincing.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Then Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, famous for changing attitudes towards the treatment of the dying, carried out a series of interviews with terminally ill people, and devised the five stages we know of today to describe the experience of facing impending death – though didn't test them in any systematic way.

BBC

Having an intensivist has been considered 'the most effective intervention to improve survival of the critically ill that has been devised in the past 30 years [ 39], and critical care medicine has become a focus of national interest in several countries.

Critical Care

A conceptual framework that explains how different Internet information searching strategies can be employed in successfully solving well and ill-structured problems was devised and empirically tested.

Computers & Education

It is shown that the rearrangement in terms of complex waves entering the domain, devised to overcome ill-conditioning arising in the transfer matrix formulation, entails as a side effect an ill-posed problem, as it leads to a complex characteristic equation in a real unknown.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Petipa had fallen ill, and the choreography was instead devised by his less-inspired assistant.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ferb was devised as a character devoid of ill will.

Wikipedia

More than 60% of pond-cultured Chinese perch in Zhujiang Delta became ill and no effective control measures could be devised because these fish eat only live fish.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Numerous scoring systems have been devised to assess the severity of illness and predict outcome in critically ill patients in the ICU, many of which incorporate the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) as a key component.

Critical Care

Most of these scoring systems have been devised for a broad range of critically ill patients.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Therefore, despite the lack of robust trials supporting particular levels of these parameters in the initiation of RRT in the critically ill, it seems that, as a group, we have devised our own!

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ill devised", ensure the context clearly indicates what aspect of the plan or design is flawed. Provide specific examples or details to support your assessment.

Common error

While "ill devised" is acceptable, be mindful of its slightly negative connotation and avoid overuse in highly formal or professional settings where a more neutral term like "poorly planned" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ill devised" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to describe something that is poorly planned or conceived. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ill devised" is an adjective phrase used to describe something poorly planned or conceived. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While its usage is relatively rare, it appears in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. When using "ill devised", ensure the context clearly indicates what aspect of the plan or design is flawed and be mindful of the slightly negative connotation when writing in formal or professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poorly planned

Focuses on the lack of adequate planning.

badly conceived

Emphasizes the flawed initial idea.

poorly thought out

Highlights the inadequate consideration given to the idea.

ill-considered

Emphasizes lack of proper consideration.

flawed design

Specifically refers to problems with the design aspect.

inadequately designed

Similar to "flawed design" but more formal.

unwise strategy

Specifically points to a poor strategic decision.

poorly executed

Emphasizes the failure in implementation rather than the idea itself.

bungled

Informal term for a poorly handled situation.

misguided

Suggests the approach was fundamentally incorrect.

FAQs

How can I use "ill devised" in a sentence?

You can use "ill devised" to describe plans, strategies, or systems that are poorly conceived or designed. For example, "The project failed due to its "ill devised" strategy that failed to consider potential obstacles."

What are some alternatives to "ill devised"?

Alternatives include "poorly planned", "badly conceived", or "poorly thought out". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "ill devised" a formal or informal expression?

While generally acceptable, "ill devised" carries a slightly negative tone. In very formal contexts, consider using a more neutral alternative like "poorly planned" or "inadequately designed".

What's the difference between "ill devised" and "poorly executed"?

"Ill devised" refers to a problem with the initial plan or design, while "poorly executed" refers to a failure in implementing the plan, even if the plan itself was sound.