is especially bad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is especially bad" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that something is worse than you would normally expect. For example, "This rainy weather is especially bad today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The situation in Texas is especially bad.

The New York Times

Smoking is especially bad for diabetics.

The New York Times

The timing of Mr Kerry's plan is especially bad.

The Economist

The record with the Sunnis is especially bad.

The New York Times

The scaling back is especially bad news for banks and their bottom line.

The New York Times

And the situation is especially bad for provincial council members," she said.

The Guardian

His lungs are permanently scarred and his cough is especially bad at night.

The Guardian

In villages, where the situation is especially bad, the open fields are the only option.

The Guardian

There aren't any good wars, but this one is especially bad...

The New York Times - Arts

Congestion is especially bad in the north-eastern corner of the United States, where it is approaching European levels.

The Economist

Lately, business is especially bad for traditional toy companies because of a new threat: smartphones and tablets.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is especially bad" to emphasize the severity of a negative situation or outcome, making sure the context clearly establishes what is being compared to.

Common error

Avoid using "is especially bad" too frequently in casual conversation; vary your language to maintain a natural and engaging tone. Try alternatives like "is particularly awful" or "is notably terrible" /s/is+notably+terrible to add color to your expressions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is especially bad" functions as a predicate adjective, modifying a subject by emphasizing the severity of its negative quality. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used. This is evident in examples such as "The situation is especially bad."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is especially bad" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to emphasize the intensity of a negative condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively communicates that something is significantly worse than usual, as evidenced by the numerous real-world examples. Predominantly found in news and media, but also present in scientific and wiki contexts, it maintains a neutral register appropriate for conveying serious concerns. When you want to convey something is more than just "bad", consider using "is especially bad" or other alternatives such as "is particularly awful" and "is notably terrible".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is particularly awful

Replaces "especially bad" with synonyms that convey a stronger sense of negativity.

is notably terrible

Emphasizes the noteworthiness of how bad something is.

is remarkably poor

Highlights the unusual degree of poor quality.

is exceptionally dreadful

Uses a more formal and intense term for "bad".

is unusually deficient

Focuses on the lack of expected qualities to an unusual extent.

is severely substandard

Indicates a significant failure to meet the required standard.

is extraordinarily deficient

Similar to 'unusually deficient' but with increased intensity.

is intensely negative

Shifts focus to the intense negative impact or nature of something.

is strikingly inferior

Highlights the noticeable lower quality compared to something else.

is alarmingly suboptimal

Emphasizes that something is not just bad, but worryingly below the optimal level.

FAQs

How can I use "is especially bad" in a sentence?

Use "is especially bad" to emphasize that a situation or condition is significantly worse than usual. For example: "The traffic is especially bad during rush hour."

What are some alternatives to "is especially bad"?

You can use phrases like "is particularly awful", "is notably terrible", or "is remarkably poor" to convey a similar meaning.

When is it appropriate to use "is especially bad" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "is especially bad" in both formal and informal writing when you want to highlight the severity of a negative situation or outcome. Be mindful of the context to ensure it fits the tone.

Is there a difference between saying "is especially bad" and "is very bad"?

"Is especially bad" emphasizes that the situation is worse than just "very bad". It suggests a higher degree of negativity compared to what might be expected or considered normal. You can use "is particularly awful" instead of "is very bad" to increase the severity.