ill written

USAGE SUMMARY

"ill written" is not correct and usable in written English.
You could say something is "poorly written" or "badly written". For example: "The report was poorly written and full of errors."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But if this is indeed satire, it's so well disguised and so ill written that it hardly counts.

The New York Times - Books

I'm not ill I'm not ill Written at the top of an uncompleted questionnaire by a patient having chemotherapy for breast cancer following surgery.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Ms. Previte, 72, who is chronically ill, writes lyrics.

The New York Times

Ill write the one: 'How Not to Work Out.' We'll weigh them".

The New York Times - Sports

Even those who believed she felt ill wrote it off, saying she'd bounce back.

The Guardian

The Treatment Advocacy Centre (TAC), a US group that seeks to promote the interests of the mentally ill, wrote a chilling report showing that "jails and prisons have become, de facto, the nation's largest psychiatric hospitals.

Independent

Another senior lawyer, Muneer A. Malik, who was jailed in a remote prison for three weeks and was released only when he became seriously ill, wrote Wednesday that fair elections were impossible without the restoration of the judges.

The New York Times

In the Times, Steven Buser — a former Air Force psychiatrist and a member of Duty to Warn, a movement of mental-health professionals who believe that Trump may be dangerously ill — wrote that he "certainly could not certify" Trump as ready to work with nuclear weapons "without more extensive psychological evaluation".

The New Yorker

Taylor took over most of Crane's correspondence while he was ill, writing to friends for monetary aid.

Wikipedia

He was always critical of most science fiction, describing it as ill thought-out, poorly written and more interested in adventure than ideas or new literary forms.

The Guardian - Books

Doctors who become ill have written about the emotional whiplash of the experience so often that the "had I but known" theme has grown a little old.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "ill written" in formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "poorly written" or "badly written" for clearer and more grammatically sound communication.

Common error

The word "ill" is primarily an adjective meaning 'sick' or 'unwell'. Using it as an adverb modifying "written" is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use adverbs like "poorly" or "badly" to describe the quality of the writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ill written" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, attempting to modify a noun (implied: text, report, etc.) by describing its quality. However, Ludwig AI confirms that it's not considered standard or grammatically correct English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "ill written" might appear in some contexts, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI highlights, alternatives such as "poorly written" or "badly written" are much better choices for clear and effective communication. The intended purpose is to negatively assess writing quality, but sticking to standard English ensures your message is well-received.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poorly written

Replaces "ill" with "poorly", a more common and grammatically accepted adverb to describe writing quality.

badly written

Uses "badly" as an alternative adverb, offering a slightly stronger negative connotation.

ineffectively written

Emphasizes the lack of effectiveness in the writing, focusing on its impact.

amateurishly written

Suggests the writing lacks professional quality and skill.

clumsily written

Highlights the awkward or ungraceful style of the writing.

unskillfully written

Focuses on the lack of skill demonstrated in the writing.

weakly written

Implies the writing lacks strength and impact.

deficiently written

Emphasizes a lack or shortage in the quality of the writing.

substandard writing

Shifts from a participle phrase to a noun phrase indicating the writing does not meet expectations.

poor quality writing

Explicitly states that the writing is of low quality.

FAQs

What's a more appropriate way to say "ill written"?

The phrase "ill written" isn't grammatically sound. Better alternatives include "poorly written" or "badly written".

Is "ill written" considered correct English?

No, "ill written" is generally considered incorrect. Standard English uses "poorly written" or "badly written" instead.

Can I use "ill written" in formal writing?

It's best to avoid "ill written" in formal contexts. Opt for more accepted phrases like "poorly written" or "ineffectively written".

What does "ill" mean in phrases like "ill-conceived"? Is it the same as in "ill written"?

In phrases like "ill-conceived", "ill" functions as a prefix meaning 'badly' or 'poorly'. However, in "ill written", it's incorrectly used as an adverb. Stick to "poorly written" or "badly written".