is awful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is awful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a negative opinion or judgment about something. Example: "The weather today is awful; I can't believe how cold and rainy it is."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

This is awful.

University of California, Berkeley

Their bench is awful.

The New York Times - Sports

Day seven is awful.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

#doctorwho is awful tonight.

Independent

HUNTINGTON'S disease is awful.

The Economist

Death is awful.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

"Monday will be awful.

The New Yorker

Mostly they are awful".

The New Yorker

The politics are awful.

The Economist

His ratings are awful.

The Economist

Oh, we were awful!

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is awful" when you want to express a strong negative opinion or disapproval. Ensure the context is appropriate for such a strong term.

Common error

Avoid using "is awful" in formal writing or professional settings. Opt for more nuanced and less emotionally charged alternatives like "is unsatisfactory" or "is substandard" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is awful" functions as a subject complement, linking a subject to a descriptor that expresses a strong negative evaluation. This can be observed in the Ludwig examples, such as "The smell "is awful"" and "Life "is awful"".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Academia

4%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is awful" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express strong disapproval or dislike. As Ludwig AI confirms, while widely applicable, its informal tone makes it less suitable for formal or professional contexts. When a more neutral tone is required, consider alternatives like "is unsatisfactory" or "is substandard". As shown in the examples from Ludwig, this phrase is commonly found in news and media, reflecting its role in conveying opinions and reactions to various subjects. Always consider your audience and the desired level of formality when using "is awful".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is terrible

Replaces "awful" with a more common synonym, "terrible", maintaining the same level of negativity.

is horrible

Substitutes "awful" with "horrible", a more general term for something unpleasant or bad.

is dreadful

Substitutes "awful" with "dreadful", conveying a sense of something being extremely unpleasant or distressing.

is dreadful

Replaces "awful" with "dreadful", conveying a sense of something being extremely unpleasant.

is horrendous

Replaces "awful" with "horrendous", indicating something extremely shocking or terrible.

is atrocious

Substitutes "awful" with "atrocious", suggesting something shockingly bad or appalling.

is appalling

Replaces "awful" with "appalling", implying something that causes shock and dismay.

is unsatisfactory

Replaces "awful" with "unsatisfactory", highlighting the failure to meet expectations or requirements.

is substandard

Substitutes "awful" with "substandard", focusing on the quality being below the required level.

is lamentable

Substitutes "awful" with "lamentable", suggesting something regrettable or unfortunate.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "is awful"?

You can use alternatives like "is terrible", "is dreadful", or "is horrendous" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "is awful"?

"Is awful" is suitable for expressing strong negative opinions in informal or casual contexts. Avoid using it in formal writing or professional communications.

Which is more formal, "is awful" or "is unsatisfactory"?

"Is unsatisfactory" is more formal than "is awful". Use "is unsatisfactory" in professional or academic writing to maintain a neutral tone.

How can I use "is awful" in a sentence?

You can use "is awful" to describe something you strongly dislike. For example, "The weather today "is awful"," or "The food at that restaurant "is awful"."