perform poorly

USAGE SUMMARY

"perform poorly" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it to talk about how someone or something is performing in a particular task or activity. For example, "The team performed poorly on the test, scoring below the national average."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Baseline, simple policy rules generally perform poorly.

The Economist

But most Indian schools still perform poorly.

The New York Times

It now dismisses students who perform poorly.

The New York Times

Kent county council's children's services "perform poorly".

The Guardian

South Korea and Japan perform poorly in all three.

The Guardian

But does it matter if Britain's teams perform poorly?

The Guardian - Sport

The fund tends to perform poorly when the market rises.

The New York Times

Firms that rely on primogeniture, he notes, perform poorly.

The Economist

Short cantilever columns above stiff in-fill panels perform poorly.

The New York Times

After the acquisition, the companies often appear to perform poorly.

The New York Times

Those who perform poorly can, of course, eventually be dismissed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "perform poorly" when you want to emphasize the act of performing, rather than just stating a general lack of quality.

Common error

While "perform poorly" is widely understood, consider using more precise and formal alternatives like "underperform" or "fail to meet expectations" in academic or professional contexts. This adds nuance and credibility to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "perform poorly" functions as a verb phrase with an adverb, describing the manner in which an action is carried out. Ludwig shows that this phrase indicates a substandard or inadequate execution of a task or activity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "perform poorly" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe inadequate or substandard performance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and business. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and choose more formal alternatives like "underperform" or "fail to meet expectations" in professional or academic writing. When using "perform poorly", be specific about the areas of deficiency to provide constructive feedback and facilitate improvement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Underperform

This is a single word alternative suggesting a failure to meet expectations.

Do badly

This alternative uses simpler vocabulary to convey a similar meaning.

Fail to deliver

Focuses on the failure to achieve expected results.

Fall short

Implies a failure to reach a required standard or target.

Not measure up

Indicates a failure to meet the necessary requirements or expectations.

Be deficient

Suggests a lack of necessary qualities or skills.

Flounder

Implies struggling and failing to progress effectively.

Come up short

Similar to "fall short", indicating an inability to reach a target.

Be inadequate

Highlights the insufficiency or unsuitability of performance.

Leave much to be desired

A more formal way of saying something wasn't good enough.

FAQs

What does it mean to "perform poorly"?

To "perform poorly" means to not do well in a particular task or activity; to underachieve or produce substandard results.

What can I say instead of "perform poorly"?

You can use alternatives like "underperform", "do badly", or "fail to deliver" depending on the context.

How can I improve if I "perform poorly" on a task?

Identify the specific areas where you are struggling, seek feedback, practice consistently, and consider alternative strategies or approaches.

Is it always bad to "perform poorly"?

While it's generally desirable to perform well, instances of "performing poorly" can provide valuable learning opportunities, highlighting areas for improvement and growth.