it was ill-advised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was ill-advised" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a decision or action that was unwise or poorly thought out. Example: "Investing all our savings in that startup was ill-advised, given the risks involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Maybe it was ill-advised.

The New Yorker

One by one, he bats away the standard criticisms of Scargill's leadership of the strike: that it was ill-advised to commence the strike in the spring, that he should have held a national ballot ("The miners weren't calling for a ballot – the people who were calling for a ballot were our enemies"), and that in returning to work without an agreement, the miners were left in an impossible position.

The Guardian

It was ill-advised and didn't last long.

TechCrunch

"Keep in the back of your mind that there are restricted areas and not much [readily available] local knowledge outside of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea". Google's Chairman, Eric Schmidt, visited North Korea earlier this month, despite warnings from US leaders that it was "ill-advised" in the wake of Pyongyang's launch of a long-range rocket in December.

BBC

It was ill-advised to target individuals.

Huffington Post

On Monday, when asked whether it was ill-advised for Porter to have had an interim security clearance to handle sensitive information, she instead accused reporters of endangering national security by publishing stories using leaked information.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Businesses and governments take heed: When there isn't a lot of dispersed information within an organization, it's ill-advised to rely on what its members think.

Harvard Business Review

It's ill-advised, and it's missing the mark.

The Guardian - Books

It is ill-advised to run UVCLEANUP between XLOAD and as this would require running XLOAD again.

Cornell University

Hof disregards the conventional wisdom that it is ill-advised for brothel owners to mix business with pleasure.

The New Yorker

This is one of many reasons it is ill-advised to use valuation as a timing mechanism.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was ill-advised", ensure the context clearly indicates what action or decision is being referred to. Providing specific details strengthens the statement's impact.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "it was ill-advised" can sound overly formal or stilted in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "it wasn't a good idea" or "it was a mistake" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was ill-advised" functions as an evaluative expression. It serves to retrospectively assess an action or decision, judging it as unwise or imprudent. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was ill-advised" is a grammatically sound way to express that a past action was unwise or poorly considered. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English and carries a tone ranging from neutral to professional. While "uncommon", its usage is consistent across various sources. It is most frequently encountered in News & Media, Wiki and Science contexts. When writing, be mindful of the context and audience, opting for simpler alternatives in informal settings. Consider using more direct and easy synonyms to avoid misunderstandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was unwise

Replaces "ill-advised" with a more common synonym, "unwise".

it was a mistake

Focuses on the negative outcome of the action.

it was a poor decision

Emphasizes the quality of the decision-making process.

it was not a good idea

A more informal way of expressing the same sentiment.

it proved to be a mistake

Highlights that the error was confirmed over time.

it was imprudent

Uses a more formal and less common synonym.

it was short-sighted

Implies a lack of consideration for long-term consequences.

it was injudicious

Replaces "ill-advised" with a slightly stronger synonym.

it was a blunder

Suggests a more significant and embarrassing error.

it was an error in judgment

Highlights the faulty reasoning behind the decision.

FAQs

What does "it was ill-advised" mean?

It means that a certain action or decision was unwise, poorly thought out, or likely to have negative consequences.

What can I say instead of "it was ill-advised"?

You can use alternatives like "it was unwise", "it was a mistake", or "it was a poor decision" depending on the context.

Is "ill-advised" the same as "unadvised"?

No, "ill-advised" means poorly considered or unwise, while "unadvised" means without advice or guidance. They have different meanings.

How formal is the phrase "it was ill-advised"?

It's considered moderately formal. In casual conversation, simpler alternatives might be preferred, but it's suitable for news articles, academic papers, and business reports.