poorly legible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poorly legible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe text that is difficult to read or understand due to poor handwriting, printing, or formatting. Example: "The notes from the meeting were poorly legible, making it hard to recall the key points discussed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The text is poorly legible at that spot.

The Washington Post

It was at the request of ONS that infant deaths (below age 1 year) were not covered, because of the difficulty of scanning the often poorly legible details on microfilm of the many infant deaths.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It was legible.

The New Yorker

Choreography must be legible.

The Guardian

Is it legible?

The New York Times

The proclamation is still legible.

The New York Times - Arts

Controls are large and legible.

The Guardian - Tech

It's legible from a distance.

The New York Times

But it was clear and legible.

The New Yorker

Only two words were legible: "am sorry".

The New York Times

Legible names included Jaczesko and Mascenik.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing documents, specify why the text is "poorly legible". Is it faded ink, small font, or handwriting?

Common error

Avoid using "poorly legible" excessively in formal reports. Opt for more precise language describing the exact issue, like "faded" or "smudged".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poorly legible" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate its readability. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes text that is difficult to read or understand.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "poorly legible" is a grammatically sound and usable adjective phrase that describes text or handwriting that is difficult to read. While Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct, its frequency is relatively rare. Its usage spans across news, media and scientific domains. When using this phrase, consider specifying the reason for the lack of legibility for greater clarity. Alternatives such as "barely readable" or "hard to decipher" may offer nuanced descriptions depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost illegible

Indicates the text is close to being unreadable.

barely readable

Focuses on the difficulty in reading the text.

hard to decipher

Emphasizes the effort required to understand the text.

difficult to make out

Highlights the challenge in distinguishing the text.

scarcely discernible

Suggests the text is faintly visible and hard to perceive.

faintly visible

Focuses on the weak visibility of the text.

indistinct

Implies a lack of clarity in the text's appearance.

blurred and unclear

Describes the text as lacking sharpness and definition.

badly written

Highlights the poor handwriting quality as a reason for illegibility.

incomprehensible script

Emphasizes the inability to understand the writing.

FAQs

What does "poorly legible" mean?

The phrase "poorly legible" describes something, typically text or handwriting, that is difficult to read or decipher.

What can I say instead of "poorly legible"?

Alternatives include "barely readable", "hard to decipher", or "almost illegible", depending on the specific context.

How to use "poorly legible" in a sentence?

You might say, "The original document was "poorly legible" due to water damage" or "His handwriting was "poorly legible", making it difficult to grade his assignments".

What causes text to be "poorly legible"?

Several factors can contribute, including faded ink, small or distorted font, poor handwriting, or damage to the document.