poor order

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poor order" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where items, tasks, or processes are not arranged or organized properly. Example: "The inventory was in poor order, making it difficult to find the necessary supplies."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Although Western military advisers have been surprised, and even scandalised, by the poor showing of the Georgian army, which retreated in poor order, dumping huge quantities of donated American equipment and ammunition, Georgia itself is optimistic about rebuilding it.The other country most threatened by Russia is Ukraine.

The Economist

The resulting generally poor order of crystals of large RNAs and their complexes frequently hampers crystallographic structure determination.

Structure

The main reason behind the poor order in neutral surfactants is the weak (S0H+)(X−I+) interaction which becomes even worse in the absence of mixing.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Hence, TBOS in this diluted region gets supplied to the less packed micelles from all sides, causing the slow condensation of uncondensed species into three-dimensional shapes including smooth and corrugated spheres with poor order (Figure 11c).

Nanoscale Research Letters

It is interesting to note that silica prepared with TEOS-T80 system (sample MS5b) has properties very close to the TEOS-CTAB system (sample MS4); both have poor order and wormlike mesopores.

Nanoscale Research Letters

All usual IR features are present on the spectrum: a broad peak with two main frequencies at 1741 and 1714 cm−1 assigned to the νC = O of the carboxylic acid group of the acidic thiolate; The presence of two frequencies for the same group suggests either two different adsorption sites and/or a poor order of the SAM.

AMB Express

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The next morning at the eco-lodge, compensating for our poor ordering with a breakfast (included in our nightly rate) of croissants, Corsican fig preserve and cappuccino, we prepared for our final valley — the Asco, described in at least one guidebook as a place of "breathtaking landscapes".

The New York Times - Travel

The prepared SMPs have poor ordered micro-phase structure.

Polymer

Furthermore, the broadened and weakened peak of PG/NF could be ascribed to the poor ordering of the deposited graphene sheets along their stacking direction [37, 38].

Nanoscale Research Letters

The higher number of carbonyl and carboxyl groups in HGO, detected by several methods, including XPS, NMR and FTIR, unavoidably results in defects of the graphene "skeleton", holes and overall disruption of the carbon-carbon bond network, stronger deviation from planar flake shape and poor ordering of the graphene oxide layers.

Carbon

The weaker 80 Å diffraction signal is indicative of poor ordering and/or occupancy of the attached motor heads.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "poor order" to describe a situation, ensure that the context clearly indicates what is disorganized or substandard. For example, "The files were in poor order" is more effective when followed by an explanation of the consequences, such as "making it difficult to retrieve information quickly".

Common error

Avoid using "poor order" as a vague description without specifying what aspect is deficient. Instead of simply stating "The project was in poor order", identify whether it's the planning, execution, or documentation that requires improvement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poor order" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically used to modify a noun. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It signifies a state of disarray, disorganization, or substandard condition, as demonstrated in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

43%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "poor order" is a correct and usable English expression that describes a state of disorganization or substandard condition, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not exceedingly common, its frequency is notable across both scientific and news media sources. To ensure clarity, always specify the aspect that is deficient when using the phrase. Alternatives such as "disorderly state" or "lack of organization" can be employed depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disorderly state

This phrase replaces "poor order" with a more descriptive adjective and noun, emphasizing the lack of arrangement.

state of disarray

This alternative emphasizes the disorganized and chaotic nature of something.

lack of organization

This phrase directly states the absence of proper arrangement and planning.

bad condition

This alternative is more general, referring to a substandard state rather than specifically disorganization.

shambolic arrangement

This option uses a stronger, more informal term to describe a chaotic or disorganized setup.

untidy arrangement

This emphasizes the lack of neatness and order.

messy state

A more informal way of describing a lack of order, focusing on the visual aspect of disorganization.

chaotic condition

Highlights the turbulent and disorganized nature of the situation.

substandard organization

This phrase indicates that the level of organization is below what is expected or acceptable.

deficient arrangement

Similar to "lack of organization", but uses a more formal and technical tone.

FAQs

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

You can use "poor order" to describe something that is disorganized or in a substandard condition. For example: "The army retreated in "poor order", abandoning equipment" or "The crystals exhibited "poor order", hindering structure determination".

What's a more formal alternative to "poor order"?

More formal alternatives include phrases like "deficient arrangement" or "substandard organization", which convey a similar meaning with a more professional tone.

Is it correct to say "in a poor order"?

While grammatically understandable, it is more common and natural to say "in poor order". The absence of the article "a" makes the phrase flow more smoothly and is generally preferred.

What words collocate well with "poor order"?

Common collocates include words related to organization, such as "retreat", "crystals", "army", "files", or general condition, such as "state", "condition", or "arrangement".