not courteous

USAGE SUMMARY

"not courteous" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means lacking in politeness or consideration. You can use it when describing someone's behavior or attitude. Example sentence: His not courteous reply to the customer's complaint only escalated the situation further.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

— Tweet from Newt Gingrich, September 23rd, 7 30 A.M. Dropping bombs is not courteous it is combat.

The New Yorker

During a trip to France last week, I read about the Tour de France in several major newspapers and found nothing about Armstrong that was not courteous or fair.

The New York Times

"They really need to reorient the policing," he said, "because the method in which they operate, and feel they have to operate, is paramilitary and it is often not courteous and not kind".

The New York Times

Colin said: "I can't stand rudeness, people who are not courteous and take for granted the situation they're in.

BBC

He was not courteous.

Huffington Post

The person they allowed in was not courteous and stared at me while I struggled out of a wet bathing suit.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

You might start to think, and rightly so, that the men who are singling out your car, even to say "God bless you!" and not "Nice ass!" are not simply being courteous, because that's not what's courteous in New York -- it's atypical and conspicuous.

Huffington Post

Courteous smokers should divorce themselves from the proximity of others.However, most smokers are not so courteous or thoughtful concerning the rights of others and American anti-smoking laws attempt to remedy this.

The Economist

Valentine said it was not very "courteous" of the Yankees.

The New York Times - Sports

Unfortunately, plenty of other MPs were not even courteous enough to acknowledge receipt.

The Guardian

The Phillies can only hope their fans are not as courteous as the visiting clubhouse staff at Citizens Bank Park.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing specific interactions, provide context. Instead of simply stating someone was "not courteous", explain the specific actions or words that demonstrated the lack of courtesy.

Common error

Avoid using "not courteous" as a general descriptor without providing specific examples or context. This can make your writing vague and less impactful. Be specific about the behavior that was discourteous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not courteous" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe a lack of politeness or consideration. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not courteous" is a grammatically sound and understandable expression used to describe a lack of politeness or consideration. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While it's not the most common phrase, it appears primarily in news and media, science, and wiki contexts. When using this phrase, it's best to provide specific context to illustrate the lack of courtesy. Alternatives such as "discourteous" or "impolite" can be used for similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discourteous

Single word replacement; direct synonym.

impolite

Similar to discourteous, emphasizing a lack of politeness.

rude

Stronger term, suggesting a more offensive lack of courtesy.

disrespectful

Highlights a lack of respect in addition to courtesy.

ill-mannered

Focuses on a lack of proper social behavior.

ungracious

Suggests a lack of charm or social grace.

uncivil

Emphasizes a lack of civility or public decorum.

insensitive

Focuses on a lack of awareness or consideration for others' feelings.

unthoughtful

Highlights a lack of consideration for others.

lacking in etiquette

Formal way of saying someone doesn't follow the rules of polite society.

FAQs

How can I use "not courteous" in a sentence?

You can use "not courteous" to describe someone's behavior. For example: "His response was "not courteous" and offended the customer."

What's a more formal alternative to "not courteous"?

A more formal alternative to "not courteous" is "discourteous". This term is often used in professional or academic settings.

What's a stronger word than "not courteous"?

A stronger word than "not courteous" is "rude". It implies a more offensive or disrespectful behavior.

Is "not courteous" grammatically correct?

Yes, "not courteous" is grammatically correct. It's a valid way to negate the adjective "courteous".