in poor form

USAGE SUMMARY

"in poor form" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when describing something (or someone) that is not performing to standards. An example sentence could be: "The football team has been performing in poor form."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

He was riding in poor form and could not duplicate his pre-spill numbers.

The New York Times - Sports

COAST STAR EASILY SCORES Williams Is in Poor Form and Practically Defeats Himself on Erratic Stroking.

The New York Times

He returned to the Tour in 1989 in poor form and was considering retirement.

The New York Times - Sports

Sri Lanka's openers in poor form so far and England 185 ahead.

The Guardian - Sport

Manchester United's Michael Carrick is in poor form, and his team-mate Owen Hargreaves has only just returned after 20 months out.

The Guardian - Sport

Cook and the rest of his top order have been in poor form during the series, which England trail 2-0.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

But Romney's speechwriters, who were in rather poor form throughout the convention, forget the essential speechwriting trick of showing rather than the telling.

The Guardian - Opinion

His behaviour should be included in that poor form; a litany of swearing from the 14-time major winner was once again clearly audible on television.

The Guardian - Sport

Leicester had been in similarly poor form, having failed to win Puel's final seven games.

BBC

Ian Murray's men went into this one in pretty poor form and well aware that they had beaten the Ibrox side only once in their last 17 encounters.

BBC

Reuben Fine and Harry Golombek attributed this to Lasker's being in mysteriously poor form.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in poor form", provide context. Explain why something or someone is not performing well. This adds depth and clarity to your writing.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something is "in poor form" without providing any supporting details. This can leave your audience wondering why and weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in poor form" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, describing its current state. It indicates a temporary or recent decline in performance, condition, or ability. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which identifies the phrase as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

20%

Sport

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in poor form" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something or someone not performing well, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's used across various contexts, particularly in news and sports reporting. When using "in poor form", provide context and consider alternatives like "underperforming" or "below par" to enhance your writing. Remember to avoid using it without explanation to ensure clarity for your audience. Overall, "in poor form" is a useful phrase for conveying a negative evaluation of current performance or condition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

underperforming

Focuses specifically on performance that is below expectations.

below par

An idiomatic expression indicating performance that is worse than usual or expected.

not up to scratch

Indicates that something does not meet the required standard.

out of sorts

Suggests a general feeling of being unwell or not performing at one's best.

struggling

Highlights the difficulty someone is experiencing in achieving a desired level of performance.

failing to deliver

Emphasizes the inability to produce the expected results.

declining

Implies a gradual decrease in quality or performance.

under the weather

Indicates that someone is feeling ill and unable to perform well.

substandard

Directly describes something as being below the acceptable quality.

not at their best

A general way of saying someone is not performing as well as they can.

FAQs

How can I use "in poor form" in a sentence?

You can use "in poor form" to describe the state of a person, team, or thing that is not performing well. For example, "The tennis player entered the tournament "in poor form" after an injury."

What are some alternatives to saying "in poor form"?

Alternatives to "in poor form" include "underperforming", "below par", or "struggling", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "in poor form" or "in bad form"?

"In poor form" and "in bad form" are similar, but "in poor form" is generally preferred as it is more common and less ambiguous.

What does it mean when someone is "in poor form"?

When someone is "in poor form", it means they are not performing well or are in a state of decline, whether physically, mentally, or professionally.