of poor quality

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "of poor quality" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when you want to describe something that is not a high standard or is not satisfactory. For example, "The food at the restaurant was of poor quality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Athenian wine was of poor quality.

Britannica

Traditional models are demonstrably of poor quality.

Electrochimica Acta

It may also be a sign of poor quality.

The New York Times

It played a tense game of poor quality in Lyon.

The New York Times - Sports

Some bootlegs are unreliable or of poor quality.

The Guardian - Tech

Fixed-line telephone services are generally of poor quality.

Britannica

And one of them was considered of poor quality.

Cornell University

Literary elites sniff that these books are of poor quality.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

This plethora of poor-quality patents is clogging American courts.

The Economist

Each camera can capture a few seconds' worth of poor-quality video with sound.

The New York Times - Tech

Our national impoverishment, at the hands of poor-quality leaders, knows no bounds.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific attribute, follow "of poor quality" with a clarifying phrase. For example, "of poor image quality" or "of poor build quality" provides more context.

Common error

While acceptable, "of poor quality" can sound informal in highly formal contexts. Consider using "substandard" or "inferior" for a more elevated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of poor quality" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, indicating that the noun possesses undesirable attributes or fails to meet a satisfactory standard. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "of poor quality" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something does not meet acceptable standards. Ludwig AI highlights that it's broadly applicable, though perhaps slightly less formal than alternatives like "substandard" or "inferior". As evidenced by a wide range of examples from news, science, and general reference sources, it effectively communicates dissatisfaction or criticism about various subjects. When using this phrase, it's helpful to provide specific details about what aspects are lacking in quality. While prevalent across various domains, it's more commonly encountered in news and scientific contexts. Finally, numerous alternative phrases, such as ""inferior quality"" or ""substandard quality"", offer nuanced options for conveying similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bad quality

Simpler term directly indicating a lack of quality.

inferior quality

Replaces 'poor' with 'inferior', directly stating a lower rank in quality.

substandard quality

Replaces 'poor' with 'substandard', emphasizing a failure to meet required standards.

of inferior grade

Highlights the low level of product's grading scale.

low-grade quality

Uses 'low-grade' to indicate a lower level of quality.

shoddy quality

Emphasizes that the quality is carelessly made or done.

second-rate quality

Indicates a quality that is not the best.

deficient in quality

Focuses on the lack of necessary quality attributes.

lacking in quality

Emphasizes the absence of good characteristics.

poorly made

Focuses on the manufacturing aspect of the quality.

FAQs

How can I use "of poor quality" in a sentence?

You can use "of poor quality" to describe something that does not meet acceptable standards. For example, "The craftsmanship was "of poor quality", with visible imperfections."

What are some alternatives to saying "of poor quality"?

You can use alternatives like "substandard quality", "inferior quality", or "low quality" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "with poor quality" instead of "of poor quality"?

While "with poor quality" might be understood, ""of poor quality"" is the more standard and grammatically correct phrasing.

What's the difference between "of poor quality" and "low quality"?

"Of poor quality" and ""low quality"" are largely interchangeable, but "of poor quality" can sometimes imply a more subjective judgment, while "low quality" is often used for more objective measurements.