just as bad

USAGE SUMMARY

'just as bad' is a perfectly correct part of a sentence in written English.
It is used to compare two things that are equally unpleasant or undesirable (i.e. both are 'bad'). For example: The ice cream I ate yesterday was just as bad as the one I ate the day before.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I'm just as bad.

The Guardian - Sport

Ebay was, predictably, just as bad.

Independent

The food situation was just as bad.

The New York Times

Matters are just as bad higher up.

The Economist

National regulators are just as bad.

The Economist

Just as bad as my first.

The New York Times - Food

(Liverpool supporters are just as bad, incidentally).

Independent

It was just as bad, maybe worse.

The New York Times - Health

Ian Hesslop's just as bad.

The Guardian

They were just as bad.

The New York Times - Arts

That was just as bad.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "just as bad", ensure that the context makes clear what is being compared. Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating both subjects in the comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "just as bad" without clearly establishing what is being compared to what. This can lead to confusion and weaken your argument. Always provide a clear reference point for the comparison.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just as bad" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's utilized to express that two or more subjects share a similar degree of negative quality. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "just as bad" is a commonly used phrase to express that two subjects are equally undesirable. As verified by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and broadly accepted, as demonstrated by its frequency in diverse sources like news articles, scientific publications, and wikis. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by explicitly stating what is being compared. Alternatives such as "equally awful" or "no better" can be used to add variety to your writing. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for many contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

equally awful

Replaces "bad" with "awful" to maintain the same level of severity.

just as terrible

Uses "terrible" instead of "bad" to amplify the negative connotation.

no better

Indicates that the alternative is not an improvement over the original.

as bad

Shortens the phrase while retaining the comparison of equivalent negativity.

just as poor

Substitutes "bad" with "poor" to reflect a lower quality or standard.

equally substandard

Replaces "bad" with a more formal term indicating something below the required standard.

just as deficient

Uses "deficient" to suggest a lack of essential qualities or elements.

no less problematic

Indicates that the alternative presents issues comparable to the original.

as detrimental

Replaces "bad" with detrimental to convey a higher degree of harm or damage.

just as unfavorable

Uses "unfavorable" instead of "bad" to express the condition of being disadvantageous.

FAQs

How can I use "just as bad" in a sentence?

You can use "just as bad" to compare two things that are equally undesirable. For example, "The traffic today was "just as bad" as it was yesterday."

What are some alternatives to saying "just as bad"?

Alternatives include "equally awful", "just as terrible", or "no better", depending on the context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "just as bad as"?

Yes, "just as bad as" is grammatically correct. It's used to make a direct comparison between two things, indicating they are equally undesirable or negative.

What's the difference between "just as bad" and "almost as bad"?

"Just as bad" implies an equal level of negativity, while "almost as bad" suggests something is close to being as negative but not quite.