poor situation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poor situation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a circumstance or condition that is unfavorable or difficult. Example: "The community is facing a poor situation due to the recent economic downturn, which has left many families struggling."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

"I'm carrying horses on board, we have had no help or information, very poor situation.

The Guardian

Europe is "going into a really serious and poor situation," Bergstrand said.

Independent

The poor situation in the UK is partly due to a big decline in honeybees in recent decades.

The Guardian

The MVA penalties have been reduced recently but it still means we are locked into a poor situation.

The Guardian - Money

"The bottom line in shooting an auto show is to make the best of a poor situation," said John Rettie, a California-based auto photographer.

The New York Times

He came to the United States illegally in 1996 because, he said, "we were in a very poor situation in my country".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Despite their poor situations, the fight for jobs is actually easier now in South Australia and Tasmania, than it was a year ago.

The Guardian - Business

You often hear in sport about positives being taken from poor situations, but it is entirely true for Australia now.

BBC

Other possibilities include the use of QSAR and read-across from structurally related substances, if testing of the substance is technically impossible because of its physico-chemical properties or in cases of data poor situations.

Environmental Sciences Europe

After we have had the poor situations of Ron trying to find common ground with his son Walker Judah Nelsonn), and then going thru the motions of raising a shark the movie has jumped the shark.

HuffPost

In resource poor situations it is better to adopt simpler models that require less data.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "poor situation", be specific about the factors contributing to it. Providing context will make your writing more informative and impactful.

Common error

Avoid using "poor situation" as a vague descriptor. Instead of simply stating that something is a "poor situation", explain why it's considered poor, and what specific aspects are problematic. For example, instead of "The company is in a poor situation", say "The company is in a poor financial situation due to declining sales and rising debt."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poor situation" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "poor" modifies the noun "situation". It's typically used to describe a condition or circumstance that is undesirable or problematic, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

6%

Academia

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "poor situation" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that describes unfavorable or difficult circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. It's most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts. When using this phrase, providing specific details about the situation's shortcomings will enhance clarity and impact. Remember to avoid overusing the phrase without sufficient context. Alternatives such as "unfortunate circumstance" or "difficult predicament" can add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfortunate circumstance

Replaces "poor" with "unfortunate" and "situation" with "circumstance", altering the tone slightly.

difficult predicament

Substitutes "poor" with "difficult" and "situation" with "predicament", indicating a challenging or troublesome situation.

bad state of affairs

Replaces "poor situation" with a more descriptive phrase highlighting the negative state.

dire straits

Uses an idiom to convey a sense of extreme difficulty or distress.

unfavorable conditions

Replaces "poor" with "unfavorable" and "situation" with "conditions", emphasizing the negative aspects of the circumstances.

challenging circumstances

Emphasizes the difficulty of the situation by using "challenging" instead of "poor".

adverse situation

Replaces "poor" with "adverse", highlighting the opposing or harmful nature of the situation.

precarious state

Focuses on the instability and risk associated with the situation.

grim reality

Emphasizes the harshness and unpleasantness of the situation.

tough spot

Uses an informal expression to describe a difficult or awkward situation.

FAQs

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

You can use "poor situation" to describe any unfavorable circumstance. For example: "The country's economy is in a "poor situation" due to high unemployment" or "The refugees are living in a "poor situation" with limited access to food and water."

What are some alternatives to "poor situation"?

Alternatives include phrases like "unfortunate circumstance", "difficult predicament", or "bad state of affairs", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "poor situation" or "difficult situation"?

Both phrases are correct, but "difficult situation" might be more appropriate when emphasizing the challenges involved, while "poor situation" focuses more on the unfavorable conditions. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What kind of situations can be described as a "poor situation"?

A "poor situation" can refer to a wide range of unfavorable circumstances, including financial difficulties, health crises, social problems, or environmental issues. Essentially, any scenario marked by negative conditions or adverse outcomes can be described as a "poor situation".