poor for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poor for" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not typically used in any context, as it does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "This product is poor for its intended use."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Or poor, for that matter.

The New York Times

"I was so poor for so long.

The Guardian - Film

"Luckily, we are too poor for dessert".

The New York Times

The figures are similarly poor for children.

The Guardian

Naturally, we were poor for a while.

The Guardian - Books

It's good lobbying tactics but pretty poor for actual conversation.

The Guardian - Tech

Should wealthy people haggle with the poor for lower prices?

The New York Times - Magazine

Russian dancers lived poor for a long time.

The New Yorker

"I don't know why, except I was poor for sure".

The New York Times

Korea was poor for much of the last century.

The New York Times - Food

But their home form has been poor for a while.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something as not meeting required standards, consider using more precise terms like "inadequate", "unsuitable", or "deficient" to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "poor for" as a catch-all phrase; instead, identify the specific aspect that is lacking or deficient. This makes your writing more informative and persuasive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poor for" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition, typically aiming to describe a deficiency or inadequacy. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is considered grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

42%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "poor for" appears frequently across various sources, it is deemed grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI. Its intended purpose is to express inadequacy or unsuitability. For clearer and more professional writing, it is best to substitute "poor for" with alternatives like "unsuitable for" or "inadequate for", ensuring greater precision and grammatical correctness. Although usage is common across News & Media and Science, consider replacing with alternatives in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsuitable for

Replaces "poor" with a more formal adjective indicating a lack of fitness for a specific purpose.

inadequate for

Similar to unsuitable, but emphasizes a deficiency in meeting requirements or expectations.

deficient in

Highlights a specific area where something is lacking or weak.

lacking in

Indicates the absence of a necessary quality or component.

not good enough for

A more direct and informal way of expressing inadequacy.

ill-equipped for

Suggests a lack of necessary resources or skills for a task.

disadvantaged in

Focuses on being at a disadvantage compared to others in a specific area.

at a disadvantage for

Similar to disadvantaged in, emphasizing the state of being less fortunate.

of poor quality for

Highlights that something is of sub-par grade for its intended functionality.

subpar for

A straightforward replacement expressing that the quality is below average.

FAQs

What is a better way to phrase "poor for"?

Consider alternatives like "unsuitable for", "inadequate for", or "deficient in depending on the context to convey the intended meaning more clearly.

When is it appropriate to use "poor for"?

While "poor for" is frequently used, it is not grammatically correct. It's advisable to replace it with more precise and grammatically sound alternatives to maintain clarity and professionalism in your writing.

How can I avoid using "poor for" in my writing?

Review your sentences and identify the specific quality that is lacking. Then, replace "poor for" with a more descriptive adjective like "lacking in" or "ill-equipped for" to provide more detail.

What are some examples of how to rephrase sentences using "poor for"?

Instead of saying "The results were poor for the experiment", try "The results were inadequate for the experiment" or "The results were "deficient in" key areas for the experiment" to be more specific.