performs poorly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "performs poorly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that does not function well or does not meet expectations in terms of performance. Example: "The new software update performs poorly, causing frequent crashes and slow response times."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Single linkage performs poorly for large families and thus performance is deteriorated by family size weighting.

Bioinformatics

He performs poorly in a fixed position.

The New York Times - Arts

Continental Europe performs poorly in the table.

The Guardian

Their content performs poorly with online advertising.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Rochester also has a school system that performs poorly.

The New York Times

Japan performs poorly in international gender equality comparisons.

The Guardian

If a player performs poorly, he says so.

The New York Times - Sports

Now, if a security screening company breaks the rules or performs poorly, the airline is fined.

The New York Times

He doesn't try to explain why it performs poorly on reading and math tests.

The New York Times

The problem it faces is that the existing ITV Wales news bulletin performs poorly.

The Guardian

But when a fund performs poorly, the income generated will also fall.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "performs poorly", specify the context or criteria against which the performance is being evaluated to provide clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "performs poorly" without providing specific details about how or why something is performing poorly. Instead of saying "The system performs poorly", specify "The system "performs poorly" under high traffic conditions due to limited bandwidth."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "performs poorly" functions as a verb phrase that describes the action of something not functioning well or failing to meet expectations. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "performs poorly" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something that does not function as expected or fails to meet certain performance standards. As supported by Ludwig's analysis, it is widely used in diverse contexts, including science, news, and formal writing. While simple, clarity is important: specify the context to enhance the meaning. When writing, be aware that while similar phrases exist— such as "underperforms" or "functions inadequately"— the selection of these alternatives is highly context-dependent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

underperforms

Suggests a failure to meet expected performance levels.

functions inadequately

Highlights the inadequacy of the functionality.

fails to deliver

Emphasizes the lack of expected results or outcomes.

is substandard

Indicates that the quality is below an acceptable standard.

doesn't measure up

Highlights the inability to meet a certain benchmark or expectation.

falls short

Focuses on the deficiency in achieving a desired outcome.

is deficient

Implies a lack of necessary qualities or elements.

operates ineffectively

Highlights the inefficiency in the operation or functioning.

yields unsatisfactory results

Focuses on the poor quality of the results produced.

proves inadequate

Emphasizes the proven inadequacy or unsuitability.

FAQs

How can I use "performs poorly" in a sentence?

You can use "performs poorly" to describe anything that is not functioning as expected or desired. For example: "The new software update "performs poorly", leading to frequent crashes."

What are some alternatives to "performs poorly"?

Alternatives include "underperforms", "functions inadequately", or "fails to deliver". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "performs badly" instead of "performs poorly"?

While "performs badly" is grammatically correct, "performs poorly" is often preferred in more formal or professional contexts. Both convey a similar meaning, but "performs poorly" is generally considered more nuanced and less harsh.

What's the difference between "performs poorly" and "is not effective"?

"Performs poorly" implies a measurable lack of performance, while "is not effective" suggests a lack of achieving a desired outcome. "This method "performs poorly" in noisy environments" suggests the method's performance degrades. "This advertising campaign "is not effective"" indicates it's not achieving its goals, regardless of its performance metrics.