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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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poorly work

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "poorly work" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "work poorly"? You can use "work poorly" to describe a situation where something is not functioning effectively or is not being done well. Example: "The software tends to work poorly when multiple users are logged in at the same time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This may suggest that those probe sets poorly work.

Science

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

And this week, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky said not only did he resent the light bulb standards but he also blamed the government for poorly working toilets in his house because of the regulations on how much water they should use.

News & Media

The New York Times

Hence, the state will be guided by very poorly worked out ideas that experts in manipulation and mass appeal use to help themselves win office.

Science

SEP

Most rural health clinics in the country lack electricity, and many rely on poorly working kerosene-powered refrigerators to chill the vaccines.

News & Media

Forbes

On this test, patients, but not unaffected risks, performed more poorly (working speed and error rate) than did the controls.

Technical problems appeared to be a major issue impacting on the uptake and sustained use of telehealth, with studies reporting little tolerance for poorly working systems, thus it is essential that telehealth equipment is user friendly and functions effectively.

The consequences of not getting enough sleep include feeling poorly, working inefficiently, weakening your immune system, and even depression.

Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, points out that: "Since [the Tories] unleashed austerity on working people in 2010, insecure, poorly rewarded work has risen threefold".

The low paid and poorly regulated work perpetuates wider poverty.

News & Media

The Guardian

It's dirty, poorly paid work, but great fun.

She is also extremely intolerant of sloppy or poorly prepared work.

Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something not functioning correctly, prefer using the adverbial form "work poorly" over "poorly work". This ensures grammatical correctness and clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "poorly" as an adjective to directly modify the noun "work." "Poorly" is an adverb, so it should modify the verb. Use "work poorly" instead to correctly describe the manner in which something is done.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

80%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poorly work" is intended to describe the quality of work performed. However, grammatically, it's incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the correct structure is to use the adverb "poorly" to modify the verb "work", hence "work poorly".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "poorly work" appears in some contexts, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct phrasing is "work poorly", using the adverb "poorly" to modify the verb "work". This ensures clarity and adherence to standard English grammar. Alternatives such as "function poorly" or "perform badly" offer other ways to express the same idea with better grammatical structure. The usage is rare and should be avoided in formal writing.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "poorly work"?

No, the grammatically correct phrasing is to use the adverb "poorly" to modify the verb "work", resulting in the phrase "work poorly". "Poorly" is an adverb and should be used to describe how the work is being performed.

What are some alternatives to "poorly work"?

Instead of "poorly work", consider using phrases such as "function poorly", "perform badly", or "operate inefficiently". These alternatives provide grammatically sound ways to express the same concept.

Which is correct, "poorly work" or "work poorly"?

"Work poorly" is correct. The adverb "poorly" should follow the verb "work" to properly modify it. Saying "poorly work" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "poorly work" and "work poorly"?

"Poorly work" is grammatically incorrect as it uses the adverb "poorly" in a way that doesn't properly modify the verb. "Work poorly" is grammatically sound because the adverb modifies the verb, indicating how the work is being done.

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Most frequent sentences: