infamously poor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "infamously poor" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something or someone that is widely known for being of very low quality or standard, often in a negative context. Example: "The restaurant was infamously poor, receiving numerous complaints about its service and food quality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Data in the social sector is infamously poor: siloed and under-leveraged.

Stanford University

It's vast, sprawling over almost 5,000 square miles, with an infamously poor public transport system.

The Guardian - Travel

One prosecution from 1,000 tax evaders using HSBC's Swiss accounts is the now infamously poor punchline.

The Guardian - Opinion

McDunn made an infamously poor ruling several years ago, trying to sidetrack adoptions by lesbian parents despite their clear legal rights.

Huffington Post

I remember thinking I wasn't feeling anything, and – bearing in mind the infamously poor quality gear available in England during the mid-2000s – I probably wasn't.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"When the president's characterization of our economy was, 'It could be worse,' it reminded me of Marie Antoinette: 'Let them eat cake,'" Romney said, referring to the infamously dismissive remark toward the poor attributed to the queen.

Huffington Post

Former Manchester United forward Bebe believes he could one day return to Old Trafford, despite infamously being regarded as one of the club's poorest ever signings.

Independent

But in resource-rich countries like Nigeria, with its enormous gap between rich and poor, subsidized gas is one of the few benefits trickling down from an infamously corrupt government that has pocketed billions of dollars in oil profits, with little to show for it.

The New York Times

It was infamously sharp.

The New Yorker

Maria Sharapova, infamously, is absent.

The Guardian - Sport

Infamously, she stopped.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "infamously poor", ensure the context clearly establishes the negative reputation being referenced. Provide specific examples to support the claim of poor quality.

Common error

Avoid using "infamously poor" as a standalone descriptor without providing concrete evidence or examples. Ensure your audience understands why the subject is considered "poor" in reputation or quality. This way you give more credibility to your claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "infamously poor" functions as an adverb-adjective combination. The adverb "infamously" modifies the adjective "poor", intensifying and adding context to the description. Ludwig's examples show it commonly attributes a negative reputation to a noun.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66.66%

Academia

16.66%

Science

16.66%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "infamously poor" is a grammatically sound adverb-adjective phrase used to describe something widely recognized for its low quality or inadequacy. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage spans across news, media, and academic domains. While other alternatives like "notoriously inadequate" or "famously deficient" exist, it's crucial to provide context and specific examples to support the claim when using "infamously poor". This phrase is best used to highlight a well-known negative attribute rather than simply indicating a lack of quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

infamously lacking

Directly points out the lack of something, emphasizing the notoriety.

notoriously lacking

Highlights the famous absence of something.

notoriously inadequate

Focuses on the inadequacy or insufficiency of something, emphasizing the widely known negative aspect.

famously insufficient

Underscores the insufficient nature of something.

famously deficient

Highlights the deficiency or lack of something, emphasizing the widespread knowledge of this shortcoming.

widely known to be substandard

Emphasizes that the poor quality is generally known and recognized.

ill-reputed for its deficiencies

Highlights the bad reputation due to several lacks in key areas.

shamefully inadequate

Emphasizes the shamefulness of the situation.

disgracefully deficient

Highlights the scandalous nature of the deficiency.

scandalously insufficient

Focuses on the scandalous lack of something.

FAQs

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

You can use "infamously poor" to describe something widely known for its low quality or bad reputation. For instance, "The restaurant was "infamously poor", with customers often complaining about the service."

What phrases can I use instead of "infamously poor"?

Alternatives include "notoriously inadequate", "famously deficient", or "widely known to be substandard". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "infamously poor" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "infamously poor" carries a somewhat negative connotation. In formal writing, consider using more neutral alternatives like "known to be substandard" or "recognized as deficient", depending on the context.

What distinguishes "infamously poor" from simply saying "poor"?

"Infamously poor" implies a widespread negative reputation or notoriety for being of low quality. Simply saying "poor" only indicates a lack of quality without necessarily implying widespread knowledge of it. The term ""infamously poor"" suggests a degree of public awareness or notoriety that "poor" alone does not convey.