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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
poor amount of
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "poor amount of" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used to describe an insufficient quantity of something, but the word "poor" is not the appropriate adjective for "amount." Example: "The project suffered due to a poor amount of resources allocated to it."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
News & Media
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
5 human-written examples
In fact, they have only been let down by the poor amount of tablet-optimised software for Android.
News & Media
In the last years a very poor amount of works was carried out on the behavior of drilled compressive members.
Science
Application of the non-invasive tVNS, tDCS, rTMS, TENS and tSNS in chronic headaches are not yet evidence based, given the poor amount of controlled data.
Entrepreneurial structures are very often specialized in a given sector of activity, particularly through their small size and poor amount of resources.
However, although buckling of glass panels has been quite well studied, a very poor amount of research has been addressed to glass columns, which by contrast represent the most interesting case due to their direct application in buildings.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
54 human-written examples
Supersaturation of more than 1.75 led to precipitations of barite in the pipes and at the inlet of the sample while supersaturation from 1 to 1.75 led to poor amounts of barite precipitation, which were not detected by the analytical methods used.
Science
This is likely to be due to the adverse effects of the nutritionally insufficient VLCDs that were popular in the 1970s, which resulted in a number of deaths due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies and consumption of poor quality or inadequate amounts of protein.
The association between P-PUFA and Ery-Hg was much stronger than the association between Ery-Hg and the self-reported variables total, fat, and lean fish intake in accordance with previous studies (Custodio et al. 2004; Hallgren et al. 2001), which probably reflects the fact that the number of fish meals reported is a poor measure of the amount of fish consumed.
But with politics, indifference and corruption conspiring to limit the number of those identified as poor, the amount of food being bought from ration shops dropped significantly and stockpiles soared.
News & Media
In contrast, although the resolutions of the WFC spectrogram are poor, the amount of data is sufficient to enable statistical study.
Science
The outcome variables regarding the experiences of the MHC service were classified as "good" (very good + good) and "poor or neutral" (neither good nor poor + poor + very poor) and regarding amount of the MHC service as "much" (very much + much) and "little" (none or very little + little + neither little nor much).
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Opt for more precise and grammatically accepted alternatives like "insufficient amount of" or "limited quantity of" to convey the intended meaning clearly and avoid ambiguity.
Common error
Avoid using "poor" to describe quantities. "Poor" typically describes quality or condition, not amount. Using it with "amount" can sound awkward or incorrect to native English speakers. Consider replacing it with alternatives such as "small" or "insufficient" to improve clarity.
Source & Trust
85%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "poor amount of" functions as a quantifier phrase, attempting to describe the quantity of something. However, its grammatical correctness is questionable. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's not considered standard written English.
Frequent in
Science
60%
News & Media
40%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "poor amount of" aims to describe a deficiency in quantity, but as Ludwig AI points out, it's not considered standard written English. Its grammatical correctness is questionable. While it does appear in some sources like The Guardian and The New York Times, alternatives like "insufficient amount of" or "limited quantity of" are generally preferred for clarity and grammatical correctness. Given the availability of better alternatives, avoid using "poor amount of" in formal writing. Instead, opt for more precise and widely accepted phrases to convey your intended meaning.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
insufficient quantity of
Emphasizes the inadequacy of the quantity, making it unsuitable for a specific purpose.
inadequate supply of
Focuses on the lack of sufficient provision or stock of something.
limited quantity of
Highlights the restriction in the amount available.
meager amount of
Stresses the scantiness or sparseness of the amount.
scarce quantity of
Underscores the rarity and difficulty in obtaining the amount.
deficient volume of
Highlights the insufficiency in bulk or magnitude.
paltry quantity of
Emphasizes the insignificance or triviality of the amount.
small quantity of
Simply states that the amount is not large, without necessarily implying inadequacy.
reduced amount of
Indicates a decrease from a previous, presumably adequate, amount.
low quantity of
States the amount is below an expected or desired level, again without necessarily implying inadequacy.
FAQs
What are some alternatives to "poor amount of"?
Consider using phrases like "insufficient amount of", "limited quantity of", or "meager amount of" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.
Is "poor amount of" grammatically correct?
While the phrase "poor amount of" appears in some contexts, it's generally considered less grammatically sound than alternatives like "insufficient amount of". Ludwig AI indicates that "poor amount of" is not correct in standard written English.
When is it appropriate to use "poor" to describe something?
Use "poor" to describe the quality or condition of something, such as "poor quality" or "poor health". It's less suitable for describing quantities; instead, use adjectives like "small", "limited", or "insufficient" to describe "amount of".
How can I improve my writing to avoid using phrases like "poor amount of"?
Focus on using precise language. Instead of "poor amount of", think about what you specifically mean: is it insufficient, small, limited, or inadequate? Choose the adjective that best reflects the intended meaning and avoid using "poor" as a default descriptor for quantity.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
85%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested