lousy practice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lousy practice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a method or approach that is considered poor or ineffective. Example: "The team's reliance on outdated technology is a lousy practice that hinders our progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It's a lousy practice.

The New York Times

Such market timing is great in theory, but since millions of other investors are trying to do the same, it tends to make for lousy practice.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I thought we had two lousy practices," Rivers said.

The New York Times - Sports

He was lousy in practice in Denver, too, and he was mostly awful in the first few quarters of games.

The New York Times

"She's been really lousy in practice the last few days, but Svet told me before the game that T was going to have a great game because she's been so bad in practice," he said, referring to the former UConn star Svetlana Abrosimova, who is now an assistant coach for the Huskies.

The New York Times - Sports

If you're lousy in practice, you'll be lousy in the pitch, so get going because if there's anything worse than getting tinnitus, it's causing it.

Forbes

As much through preaching as through actions, Mr Levitt addressed real weaknesses in the American financial markets: deceptive sales practices, lousy accounting standards and high costs.

The Economist

Yet there are enough shady dealings, lousy informed consent practices, and poor health outcomes to cry out for regulation of such transactions -- or for banning them, as the World Health Organization (WHO) is trying to do.

Huffington Post

Bad practices and lousy data-hygiene is the enemy.

Huffington Post

You're right to be concerned about paying the right party — not because of database breaches but because of the lousy records and bad practices that plague the debt collection industry.

Los Angeles Times

Health care is abysmal; there is a surfeit of fake or lousy drugs—and a longstanding practice of not taking them all.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lousy practice" to describe specific actions or methods, avoiding vague statements. For instance, instead of saying 'Their approach is a lousy practice', specify 'Their reliance on outdated data analysis is a lousy practice'.

Common error

While "lousy practice" is acceptable, it might be perceived as too informal in professional settings. Consider using more formal alternatives like "poor practice" or "ineffective method" for increased suitability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lousy practice" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "lousy" modifies the noun "practice". It serves to describe a particular practice as being of poor quality or ineffective. According to Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lousy practice" is a phrase used to describe a method or approach considered poor or ineffective. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While not overly formal, it appears in news sources and conveys criticism or disapproval. To enhance clarity, it's best to specify the negative consequences of the "lousy practice". More formal alternatives include "poor practice" or "ineffective method".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poor practice

Replaces "lousy" with a more standard adjective, maintaining the same meaning.

bad practice

Substitutes "lousy" with another common adjective indicating low quality.

ineffective method

Shifts from describing a practice to a method, emphasizing its lack of effectiveness.

substandard procedure

Replaces "practice" with "procedure", highlighting that the process is below the required standard.

deficient approach

Uses "deficient" to indicate a lack of quality in the approach.

faulty technique

Focuses on the technique being flawed or incorrect.

inadequate process

Emphasizes that the process is not good enough or sufficient.

unacceptable behavior

Broadens the scope to behavior, indicating that it does not meet standards.

terrible habit

Describes the practice as a habit and emphasizes its poor quality.

slipshod way

Highlights that the way of doing something is careless and of poor quality.

FAQs

What does "lousy practice" mean?

The phrase "lousy practice" refers to a method, behavior, or procedure that is of poor quality, ineffective, or undesirable.

What can I say instead of "lousy practice"?

You can use alternatives like "poor practice", "bad practice", or "ineffective method" depending on the context.

Is "lousy practice" suitable for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "lousy practice" may be considered informal. In formal writing, opt for "poor practice" or similar alternatives.

How can I effectively use "lousy practice" in a sentence?

Clearly specify what makes the practice "lousy". For example, "The company's lack of customer support is a "lousy practice" that damages its reputation."