it really awful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it really awful" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "it is really awful" or "it's really awful"? You can use the corrected phrase to express strong disapproval or dissatisfaction with something. Example: "The service at the restaurant was so slow that I have to say, it's really awful."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

BMC Health Services Research

WikiHow

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Princeton University

Independent

Huffington Post

The New York Times

The New Yorker

The Guardian - Music

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Los Angeles Times

Vice

HuffPost

BMC Women's Health

Genetics in Medicine

TechCrunch

The Guardian - Sport

The Guardian - Books

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If I was in that position, I would find it really awful if I was to start behaving in that dependent way - I would no longer be me.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

However, if after a few times of wearing it you decide (or someone tells you!) that it looks really awful on you, donate it to a charity shop rather than leave it in the back of your wardrobe.

WikiHow

But these two three-dimensional objects and then you project them into a three-dimensional space, it looks really awful, which is why it's so hard.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But going above that, it actually narrows even more, and it is really awful.

Princeton University

"Some people don't seem to be able to smell it all, some people say it smells OK or a bit sweaty, whereas others say it smells really awful, like babies' nappies," Dr Saxton said.

Independent

You get the impression it was a middle aged midwesterner's idea of snappy head gear, and it's really awful.

Huffington Post

But it's really awful.

The New York Times

"It was really awful, and I really felt, like, her presence," Vegas said.

The New Yorker

It was really awful actually and made me feel like my body was quite useless.

The New York Times

It was really awful but when I told people they were like roaring with laughter, you know".

Independent

Everyone I loved in Atlanta was on heroin and it was really awful and gross so I went to New York.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always include a verb (like 'is' or 'was') when expressing that something "is" awful to ensure grammatical correctness. For example, use "it is really awful" or "it's really awful".

Common error

Avoid omitting the verb "to be" (is, are, was, were) when describing something. Saying "it really awful" is grammatically incorrect. Instead, say "it is really awful" or "it's really awful".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it really awful" functions as a descriptive expression, attempting to convey a strong negative assessment. However, it is grammatically incomplete, lacking the necessary verb "to be". As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase requires correction to achieve grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Wiki

12%

Science

18%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it really awful" aims to express strong disapproval or negativity, it is grammatically incorrect due to the omission of the verb "to be". As Ludwig AI explains, the correct forms are "it is really awful" or "it's really awful". Although examples of the incorrect phrase exist across various sources, its use is limited by its grammatical issues. To ensure clarity and correctness, it's advisable to use grammatically sound alternatives such as "it is truly awful" or "it's really terrible", particularly in formal or professional contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is truly awful

This alternative adds the missing verb "is" to make the sentence grammatically correct, maintaining the original sentiment.

it's genuinely awful

By adding "genuinely", this alternative emphasizes the sincerity of the feeling that something is terrible.

it's really terrible

This alternative replaces "awful" with "terrible" to convey a similar meaning of something being very bad, while using correct grammar.

that's really awful

This adjusts the sentence to use "that's" to refer to something specific previously mentioned, maintaining the negative connotation.

it is really bad

This alternative uses the simpler term "bad" instead of "awful", keeping the grammar correct and the meaning understandable.

it's absolutely dreadful

This alternative substitutes "awful" with "dreadful" to express strong disapproval or dislike, employing a more emphatic adjective.

this is truly terrible

This alternative uses "this is" to refer to a specific situation, replacing "awful" with "terrible" for grammatical correctness.

it's utterly appalling

This alternative uses "appalling" to denote something shockingly bad or unpleasant, providing a stronger emotional tone.

it seems really bad

This uses "seems" to convey that something gives the impression of being very bad.

it appears awful

This changes the construction to indicate that something seems terrible based on observation.

FAQs

How can I correctly say something is very bad?

To correctly express that something is very bad, use phrases like "it is really awful", "it's really bad", or "it's truly terrible". Ensure you include the verb 'is' or its contraction.

What's the difference between "it really awful" and "it is really awful"?

"It really awful" is grammatically incorrect because it omits the necessary verb "is". The correct form, "it is really awful", includes the verb, making it a complete and grammatically sound sentence.

What are some alternatives to saying something is "really awful"?

Instead of saying something is "really awful", you could use phrases like "absolutely dreadful", "utterly appalling", or simply "really bad", depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Is "it really awful" considered formal or informal?

The phrase "it is really awful" can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, contractions like "it's really awful" are generally more appropriate for informal settings.