poor indicators

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poor indicators" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to signs or measures that suggest negative outcomes or low performance. For example, "The company's declining sales figures are poor indicators of its future success." Alternative expressions include "weak indicators" and "bad indicators."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, our analyses indicate that length measurements are generally poor indicators of size, especially compared to circumference.

BMC Biology

Facial features are poor indicators to the quality of a mate.

The Economist

Frequency and urgency of urinating are poor indicators of disease, since the cause is often benign.

The New York Times

A bevy of poor indicators on the economy, especially home sales, pierced an optimistic mood brought on by strong earnings reports the month before.

The New York Times

Richard S. Foster, the chief Medicare actuary, said the projections in the report, based on current law, "are probably poor indicators of the future financial status of Medicare".

The New York Times

These big swings are, however, driven mainly by fluctuations in the prices of raw materials, which Fed officials consider poor indicators of underlying inflationary pressures.

The New York Times - Magazine

Those who can afford the extensive prep courses available for the SAT and graduate admissions tests corrupt the process and render the test scores poor indicators of student learning or potential.

The New York Times

The Ravens' 5-1 record is misleading, and if there is anything I've learned from studying team fortunes, early season records can be very poor indicators of future success.

The New York Times

The websites people accessed, who they associated with, their ideas, and their physical appearance were poor indicators of whether someone was vulnerable to Isis propaganda and likely to commit a terrorist act, Aly said.

The Guardian

Simple checks for keyword mentions are poor indicators of content.

Security Informatics

Consequently, the prescribed approach can determine the poor indicators and the process units.

Reliability Engineering & System Safety

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "poor indicators", clearly state what they are failing to indicate and why. Provide context to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid making critical decisions based solely on "poor indicators". Always cross-reference with more reliable data to form a comprehensive understanding.

Linguistic Context

Poor indicators function as a descriptive phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something is not a reliable or accurate measure. Ludwig's examples showcase its usage in academic, news, and formal contexts. The Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

67%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "poor indicators" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe unreliable or inaccurate measures. Ludwig highlights its prevalence in science and news media. While suitable for formal and neutral registers, it's crucial to provide context and avoid over-reliance on such indicators. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. By understanding its nuances and potential pitfalls, writers can effectively convey their skepticism about the reliability of certain metrics.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unreliable metrics

Emphasizes the lack of reliability in the measurement.

weak signals

Focuses on the feebleness or insignificance of the signals.

inadequate measures

Highlights the insufficiency of the methods used.

misleading signs

Stresses the deceptive nature of the signs.

flawed predictors

Emphasizes the defects in the predictive capability.

deficient markers

Points out the shortcomings in the markers used.

untrustworthy indices

Indicates a lack of trust in the indices.

suboptimal gauges

Suggests the gauges are not performing at their best.

imperfect barometers

Highlights the imperfections in the barometers.

dubious indicators

Expresses doubt about the validity of the indicators.

FAQs

How can I use "poor indicators" in a sentence?

You can use "poor indicators" to describe metrics or signs that don't accurately reflect the true state of something. For example: "Low test scores can be "poor indicators" of a student's overall potential."

What are some alternatives to saying "poor indicators"?

Alternatives include "unreliable metrics", "weak signals", or "inadequate measures". The best choice depends on the specific context.

When should I use "poor indicators" instead of "unreliable indicators"?

While both are similar, "poor indicators" emphasizes inadequacy or ineffectiveness, whereas "unreliable indicators" focuses on the inconsistency or untrustworthiness. The choice depends on whether you want to highlight the quality or the dependability of the indicator.

Can "poor indicators" still be useful?

Yes, even "poor indicators" can offer some insight when used cautiously and in conjunction with other data. They can help identify areas that need further investigation, but shouldn't be relied upon for making definitive conclusions.