poor growth

USAGE SUMMARY

'poor growth' can be used in written English.
For example, "The company experienced poor growth in its second quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Poor growth enfeebles both the sovereigns and the banks.

The Economist

The scenario leading to inflation starts with poor growth.

The Economist

There are other symptoms, including sinus infections, poor growth, diarrhea, and infertility.

Stanford University

The prime minister will blame Britain's poor growth on the crisis in the eurozone.

The Guardian

It has 25% inflation, poor growth and a big budget deficit.

The Guardian - Business

Poor growth figures put a "new" financial collapse back on the cards.

The Guardian - Opinion

Some strains showed very poor growth on VSM, preventing measurement of colony size.

Nature

Transformants carrying flag-mmi1W112A were identified based on their poor growth at 18 °C.

Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

We need an appropriate macro and micro-economic framework to support pro-poor growth.

The Guardian

Some see inclusive growth as pro-poor growth – economic growth that benefits poor people – in another guise.

The Guardian

Fig. 7 CGE-microsimulation augmented with pro-poor growth framework.

Journal of Economic Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific writing, specify the parameters of the growth (e.g. biomass, height, GDP) to provide context for what is considered poor

Common error

Avoid using "poor growth" when you actually mean "pro-poor growth". The latter is a specific economic term referring to growth that specifically benefits the impoverished, while the former simply means the rate of growth is low or unsatisfactory

Linguistic Context

In English grammar, "poor growth" functions as a noun phrase. It consists of the attributive adjective "poor", which modifies the head noun "growth". According to Ludwig, it is most frequently used as the direct object of a verb or as the subject of a sentence describing biological or economic states. The phrase follows standard syntax and is recognized as correct by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

25%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "poor growth" is a highly versatile and essential component of professional English. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and notes its prevalence in high-authority sources such as Nature and The Economist. It is most effective when used to describe sub-optimal development in biological, medical or economic contexts. While it is a simple construction, its strength lies in its clarity and wide acceptance. Writers should be careful to distinguish it from specialized terms like "pro-poor growth" to maintain accuracy in economic reporting. Overall, Ludwig shows that it is a reliable choice for any formal or neutral evaluation of progress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sluggish growth

Focuses on the slow speed of development, common in economic contexts

stunted growth

Specifically implies that growth has been hindered or stopped, often used in biology

anemic growth

A metaphorical term describing growth that is weak and lacks vitality, often used in finance

weak expansion

Often refers to the physical or economic broadening of a system

underperformance

Focuses on the failure to reach expected growth targets

insufficient development

Shifts focus to the qualitative state of not being fully formed

meager progress

Emphasizes the small, almost insignificant amount of gain

subpar results

Refers to the outcome of a growth period being below standard

limited advancement

Suggests that progress was restricted by specific barriers

mediocre increase

Describes an average but ultimately disappointing rise in numbers

FAQs

How do I use "poor growth" in a sentence?

You can use it as a subject or object; for example, "The plant exhibited "poor growth" due to lack of sunlight" or "Economists are concerned about the country's "poor growth" figures."

What can I say instead of "poor growth"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "sluggish growth" for economics, "stunted growth" for biology, or "anemic growth" for a more descriptive tone.

Is "poor growth" appropriate for formal reports?

Yes, it is widely used in formal contexts ranging from academic journals like Nature to reputable news outlets like The Economist. It is a precise way to describe unsatisfactory development.

What is the difference between "poor growth" and "stunted growth"?

While both describe unsatisfactory progress, "stunted growth" implies that the growth was actively hindered or permanently stopped, whereas "poor growth" is a broader term for any rate of development that is below expectations.