is poor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is poor" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a lack of quality, resources, or financial status in various contexts. Example: "The overall performance of the team is poor, leading to disappointing results this season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The town is poor.

The New Yorker

Cornwall is poor.

The Economist

But Wuppertal is poor.

The Economist

This is poor here.

The New York Times

Mozambique is poor.

The Economist

"Our government is poor".

The New York Times

Another is poor legislation.

The Economist

"Their diet is poor.

BBC

His Spanish is poor.

The Economist

This neighborhood is poor".

The New York Times

Her English is poor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is poor" to describe performance, be specific about what aspects are deficient. For example, instead of saying "The quality is poor", specify "The sound quality is poor due to low bitrate".

Common error

Avoid using "is poor" without providing context. This can lead to misunderstandings. Instead of stating "The country is poor", explain "The country is poor due to a lack of natural resources and political instability".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is poor" primarily functions as a predicate adjective, describing a noun or pronoun. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is used to attribute a quality of deficiency, inadequacy, or lack of resources to the subject. For example, "The quality of goods is poor".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is poor" is a versatile expression used to convey a lack of quality, resources, or effectiveness. As Ludwig AI's analysis indicates, it's grammatically sound and frequently encountered across various sources, especially in News & Media. When using "is poor", it is best to be specific and provide context to avoid vagueness. Alternative phrases such as "is deficient" or "is inadequate" can provide more nuanced meaning depending on the situation. With a high expert rating for both source quality and grammatical correctness, it remains a reliable choice in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is deficient

Focuses on the lack of something essential or necessary.

is inadequate

Highlights the insufficiency of something for a particular purpose.

is substandard

Emphasizes that something fails to meet a required level or standard.

is lacking

Indicates the absence or shortage of something.

is inferior

Directly states that something is lower in quality or rank.

is weak

Suggests a lack of strength, power, or effectiveness.

is failing

Implies a decline or inability to function properly.

is impoverished

Specifically refers to a lack of wealth or resources, often on a larger scale.

is struggling

Conveys difficulty and effort to maintain or succeed.

is wanting

Indicates something is missing or not up to par.

FAQs

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

You can use "is poor" to describe the quality of something, such as "The picture quality is poor", or to describe a state of lacking resources, as in "The country is poor".

What are some alternatives to saying "is poor"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "is deficient", "is inadequate", or "is lacking".

Is it correct to say "the poor is..."?

No, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "the poor are..." because "the poor" refers to a group of people.

What's the difference between "is poor" and "are poor"?

"Is poor" is used with singular nouns or pronouns, while "are poor" is used with plural nouns or pronouns. For example, "His performance is poor", but "Their living conditions are poor".