it sounds awfully

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it sounds awfully" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a strong negative opinion or impression about something that has been said or suggested. Example: "After hearing the proposal, it sounds awfully unrealistic to me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"Just that it sounds awfully secondhand.

The New Yorker

Location aside, it sounds awfully like Guantánamo.

The Guardian - Books

It sounds awfully like water-marketing, a concept that spawns nightmares in Utah and Wyoming.

The Economist

But it sounds awfully odd and stilted out in the dining room.

The New York Times

Otherwise, at least according to the genre classification given by the Internet Broadway Database, it sounds awfully familiar.

The New York Times

It sounds awfully cynical, but the economic crisis may have focused peoples' minds more acutely on Ireland's prospects if it stands at odds with Europe.Can the government make a compelling case to convince voters to change their minds without completely undermining confidence in Ireland (and across Europe) in officials' willingness to listen to the people?

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

It sounded awfully like separate but equal.

The Economist

I don't know if it's true, but it sounded awfully good.

The New York Times

Predicted champions Chelsea Predicted bottom three Norwich, Leicester, Sunderland Would it sound awfully weaselly to say I wondered at the time if this prediction might be the one I came to regret?

The Guardian - Sport

You Wouldn't Believe Who Voices Shredder When I first heard Shredder's voice, it sounded awfully familiar.

Huffington Post

But it also sounds awfully like a cry for help from an airline that has bet big on business travel and which is now extremely worried that it has bet wrong.This autumn BA will fly 1,000 businesspeople free from New York, Los Angeles and Chicago to London.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it sounds awfully" when you want to express a strong negative impression or skepticism about something you've heard or read. It's suitable for conveying doubt or disbelief in a polite yet firm way.

Common error

While "it sounds awfully" is acceptable, avoid overusing "awfully" as an intensifier in your writing. It can become repetitive and weaken your message. Vary your word choice with synonyms like 'very', 'extremely', or 'remarkably' to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it sounds awfully" functions as an evaluative expression. It is used to convey a speaker's negative assessment or skepticism about something they have heard or learned. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

94%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it sounds awfully" is a phrase used to express a negative impression or skepticism, deeming something as questionable or unconvincing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and it finds common usage in journalistic contexts as reflected by the prevalent usage examples from the news. While the phrase isn't overly formal, it maintains a neutral tone and can be incorporated into professional communication. Alternatives like "it seems quite bad" or "it appears rather terrible" can be employed to diversify writing. Keep in mind that varying your word choice and avoiding over-repetition are key to ensuring the impact of your messaging.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it seems quite bad

Changes 'sounds awfully' to 'seems quite bad', altering the verb and intensifier for a less idiomatic expression of negativity.

it appears rather terrible

Substitutes 'sounds' with 'appears' and 'awfully' with 'rather terrible', shifting from auditory impression to visual assessment with a stronger negative term.

it rings quite hollow

Replaces 'sounds awfully' with 'rings quite hollow', implying a lack of sincerity or substance.

it has a dubious ring to it

Uses 'has a dubious ring' instead of 'sounds awfully', indicating a sense of suspicion or doubt about something.

that seems highly improbable

Changes the entire structure to focus on the improbability, moving away from the auditory sense and focusing on likelihood.

it's highly questionable

Shifts the focus to the questionable nature of the subject, indicating doubt and uncertainty.

it gives a bad impression

Focuses on the negative impression created, rather than the sound itself.

that raises serious doubts

Highlights the doubts that arise from something, rather than its sound.

it smacks of

Replaces the entire structure with an idiom that suggests something is reminiscent of something negative ('it smacks of dishonesty').

that story doesn't add up

Changes the focus to the coherence of a story, indicating disbelief or suspicion.

FAQs

How can I use "it sounds awfully" in a sentence?

You can use "it sounds awfully" to express a negative impression or disbelief about something. For example, "His explanation sounds awfully convenient, don't you think?"

What can I say instead of "it sounds awfully"?

You can use alternatives like "it seems quite bad", "it appears rather terrible", or "it rings quite hollow" depending on the context.

Is "it sounds awfully" formal or informal?

"It sounds awfully" is generally considered to be neutral in terms of formality. It can be used in both casual and more formal settings, though more formal alternatives might be preferred in certain contexts.

What does "awfully" mean in "it sounds awfully"?

In "it sounds awfully", "awfully" functions as an intensifier, similar to "very" or "extremely". It strengthens the negative impression conveyed by the phrase.