poorly worded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poorly worded" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a statement or text that is not clearly or effectively expressed. Example: "The instructions were poorly worded, leading to confusion among the team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"It was a poorly worded question".

The New York Times

"The letter was poorly worded," said Mr. Berlinger.

The New York Times

Mr. Beck later said his question had been "poorly worded".

The New York Times

I am sorry it was poorly worded; that has been cleared up," he said.

The Guardian - Tech

The Hamlet essay was a trick assignment, or perhaps a poorly worded one.

The New York Times

"But it was so poorly worded that it ended up sounding like a compliment!

The Guardian - Music

I am sorry it was poorly worded; that has been cleared up.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

He acknowledged, however, that a poorly-worded message sent to public schools across the nation may have contributed to public misunderstanding.

The New York Times

4. At the Grace Hopper Celebration for women in tech, Satya Nadella put his foot in his mouth after a poorly-worded response to the question of how women should ask for a raise.

TechCrunch

However, criticizing the show's poorly-worded casting call is very different than criticizing the show's desire for actors of color.

Huffington Post

Because there were at least five different court orders issued at different times, following a vague and poorly-worded executive order, the confusion was understandable.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When criticizing someone's writing, be specific about why the wording is "poorly worded". Is it unclear, confusing, or misleading? Providing context will make your feedback more constructive.

Common error

Avoid simply stating something is "poorly worded" without explaining how it is poorly worded. This provides no actionable feedback. Instead, identify the specific areas of confusion or ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poorly worded" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, indicating that the noun (e.g., question, email, statement) is characterized by its ineffective or unclear wording. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase describes something lacking clarity or precision in its formulation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "poorly worded" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something that lacks clarity or precision in its expression. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It is frequently used in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While "poorly worded" is generally neutral, consider alternatives like "badly phrased" or "unclearly stated" for nuanced meanings. When using the phrase, be specific about how the wording is deficient to provide constructive feedback and avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

badly phrased

Focuses on the phrasing itself being flawed.

ineffectively expressed

Highlights the lack of effective communication.

unclearly stated

Emphasizes the lack of clarity in the statement.

ambiguously formulated

Points to the formulation being open to multiple interpretations.

vaguely articulated

Suggests a lack of precision in the articulation.

clumsily expressed

Indicates a lack of finesse in the expression.

awkwardly phrased

Highlights the awkwardness in the way the phrase is constructed.

poorly articulated

Focuses on the articulation being flawed.

unskillfully worded

Emphasizes the lack of skill in the wording.

inarticulately expressed

Highlights the inarticulateness in the expression.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "poorly worded" to sound more professional?

Consider alternatives such as "unclearly stated", "ambiguously formulated", or "ineffectively expressed" depending on the specific issue with the wording.

What does it mean when something is described as "poorly worded"?

It means the statement or text is not clear, effective, or easy to understand. It may contain ambiguous language, awkward phrasing, or lack precision.

Is it better to say "poorly worded" or "badly worded"?

"Poorly worded" is generally considered more formal and professional than "badly worded". Both are acceptable, but "poorly worded" is often preferred in formal writing.

How do I identify if a question is "poorly worded"?

A question is "poorly worded" if it's confusing, leading, or doesn't clearly convey the intended information. Look for ambiguity or potential for misinterpretation.