poor work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poor work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe work that is of low quality or not up to standard. Example: "The report submitted was considered poor work, lacking the necessary research and analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Tells about poor work conditions.

The New Yorker

5 Don't hold on to poor work.

The Guardian - Books

The poor work hard; they study seriously...

The New York Times - Arts

Found in street debris east of G 2100, limestone stele of [GLYPHS], rather poor work.

Harvard University

Too often, he said, they have a poor work ethic and lack mental toughness.

The New York Times - Sports

These areas are said to offer both poor educational opportunities and poor work opportunities for adults.

Independent

BEIJING — Protests over land grabs, industrial pollution and poor work conditions often rattle the Chinese authorities.

The New York Times

Generations of urbanites therefore faced long work hours, poor work conditions, overcrowded housing, and inadequate sanitation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

No one will ever see it, because I'm embarrassed at the poor work".

The Guardian - Film

Henriquez has been held back by a poor work ethic, leading to weight problems.

The New York Times - Sports

We will not accept dishonesty, a poor work ethic or political game playing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "poor work" to critique performance, provide specific examples of what needs improvement rather than just stating the work is "poor". For instance, instead of saying "The presentation was poor work", specify "The presentation was "poor work" because it lacked data and clear organization".

Common error

Avoid using "poor work" as a general, unsubstantiated criticism. Always follow up with details. Saying "That's "poor work"" without explaining why can be demotivating and unhelpful. Always give constructive feedback.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poor work" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "poor" modifies the noun "work". It describes the quality or standard of the work being performed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to denote work that is substandard.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "poor work" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe work that fails to meet required standards. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's correct and suitable for describing low-quality output. While versatile, it's important to provide specific details when using this phrase to ensure constructive feedback. Related phrases include "substandard effort" and "deficient performance". Remember to avoid vagueness and always support your assessment with clear examples to make your feedback more effective. The phrase's frequent usage across news, scientific, and academic sources reflects its broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsatisfactory results

"Results" shifts the focus to the outcomes of the work, and "unsatisfactory" means the results did not meet expectations.

deficient performance

"Performance" highlights the act of carrying out a task, and "deficient" underscores a lack of necessary qualities or elements.

faulty output

"Output" describes the result or product of work, while "faulty" indicates defects or imperfections.

inadequate job

Substitutes "work" with "job", which is suitable when referring to a specific task or assignment, while "inadequate" indicates it's not good enough.

weak execution

"Execution" focuses on the carrying out of a plan or task, and "weak" suggests a lack of effectiveness or strength.

substandard effort

Replaces "work" with "effort" to focus on the exertion rather than the outcome; "substandard" emphasizes the failure to meet a required level.

shoddy workmanship

"Workmanship" refers to the quality of skill in performing a task, especially construction, and "shoddy" implies poor quality due to carelessness.

deficient labor

Using "labor" emphasizes the effort and manpower involved, while "deficient" highlights the insufficiency in quality or quantity.

inferior craftsmanship

"Craftsmanship" is appropriate when referring to work requiring skill and artistry, and "inferior" signifies lower quality.

flawed creation

"Creation" is suitable when referring to artistic or innovative work, and "flawed" indicates the presence of imperfections.

FAQs

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

You can use "poor work" to describe something that is not done well or is of low quality. For example: "The student received a failing grade due to "poor work" on the final exam."

What can I say instead of "poor work"?

You can use alternatives like "substandard effort", "deficient performance", or "inadequate job" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "poor work ethic" or "bad work ethic"?

Both "poor work ethic" and "bad work ethic" are acceptable, but "poor work ethic" is generally considered more formal and professional. "Bad work ethic" is more informal and might be used in casual conversation.

How does "poor work" differ from "negligence"?

"Poor work" generally describes work that is of low quality or not done well. "Negligence", on the other hand, implies a failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in similar circumstances. Negligence often involves a dereliction of duty.