pretty awful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretty awful" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an informal phrase that is typically used to express displeasure or disappointment, often with some degree of irony or humor. For example, "After waiting in line for twenty minutes, I finally got my order only to find out it was pretty awful!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But it's pretty awful.

The New York Times

It was pretty awful.

The New Yorker

Which are pretty awful.

The New Yorker

That was pretty awful".

The Guardian

That probably felt pretty awful.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is pretty awful at government.

The New York Times

The two-megapixel camera is pretty awful.

The New York Times - Tech

"It was still a pretty awful night.

Independent

The first one looked pretty awful.

The Guardian

My own experience, though, was pretty awful.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Yeah, it must have been pretty awful.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pretty awful", consider your audience. While common, it's informal and might not suit formal writing. Opt for a more professional term like "remarkably poor" in those contexts.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "pretty awful" in your writing. Overuse can make your prose sound repetitive and uninspired. Vary your language by using synonyms such as "quite terrible" or "really dreadful" to keep your writing fresh and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty awful" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating a negative quality. As Ludwig AI notes, the phrase is common and grammatically correct. Examples show it used to describe films, experiences, and even personal feelings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pretty awful" is a common and grammatically sound adjectival phrase used to express disapproval or dissatisfaction. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. While prevalent in informal contexts and news articles, it may not be suitable for formal or scientific writing. Consider using more formal alternatives like "remarkably poor" or "exceptionally disappointing" in such cases. The examples showcase its versatility in describing various negative experiences and opinions. To avoid overuse, explore synonyms like "quite terrible" or "really dreadful".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite terrible

Changes the intensity by using "quite" instead of "pretty", indicating a slightly more pronounced degree of awfulness.

downright terrible

Emphasizes the negativity with "downright", suggesting something is absolutely terrible without qualification.

really dreadful

Substitutes both "pretty" and "awful" with synonyms that emphasize the severity of the situation.

utterly atrocious

Replaces "pretty" with "utterly" for emphasis and "awful" with "atrocious" to denote extreme unpleasantness.

fairly bad

Uses milder synonyms to soften the negative impact, suggesting something is not good but not severely terrible.

remarkably poor

Emphasizes the substandard quality or condition of something, using a more formal tone.

exceptionally disappointing

Focuses on the disappointment caused by something, rather than its general unpleasantness.

seriously substandard

Highlights that something falls below an acceptable standard, implying a significant deficiency.

genuinely unpleasant

Indicates that something is truly disagreeable or offensive, stressing the authentic negative experience.

somewhat regrettable

Softens the negativity, indicating something is undesirable and causes regret.

FAQs

How can I use "pretty awful" in a sentence?

You can use "pretty awful" to express that something is quite bad or unpleasant. For example, "The movie was pretty awful, I wouldn't recommend it."

What's a more formal alternative to "pretty awful"?

For a more formal setting, you could use phrases like "remarkably poor" or "exceptionally disappointing".

Is "pretty awful" grammatically correct?

Yes, "pretty awful" is grammatically correct and commonly used, though it's considered informal. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

What are some synonyms for "pretty awful" that convey different nuances?

Synonyms like "utterly atrocious" suggest extreme unpleasantness, while "fairly bad" is a milder way to describe something negative.