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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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problematic code

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "problematic code" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe code that has issues, bugs, or is difficult to understand or maintain. Example: "The developer identified several sections of the problematic code that needed to be refactored for better performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

TechCrunch

BBC

Huffington Post

WikiHow

BMC Medical Research Methodology

The New Yorker

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

TechCrunch

Environmental Health Perspectives

BMJ Open

The Guardian - Sport

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

The Guardian - Opinion

Computers & Security

BMC Evolutionary Biology

ACS Combinatorial Science

BMJ Open

TechCrunch

Journal of Cheminformatics

BMC Health Services Research

Addiction

BMC Evolutionary Biology

BMC Public Health

The Economist

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

The Guardian

Methods

BMC Health Services Research

BMC Geriatrics

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Emerging Infectious Diseases

TechCrunch

BMJ Open

SEP

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Huffington Post

Environmental Health Perspectives

BMC Genomics

Journal of Cheminformatics

Huffington Post

BMC Medical Ethics

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Current Psychiatry Reports

British Journal of Cancer

The Guardian

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

BMC Health Services Research

BMC Public Health

BMC Infectious Diseases

BMC Evolutionary Biology

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

The New York Times

Emergency Medicine Journal

BMC Evolutionary Biology

BBC

BMJ Open

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Payment company Square has built an internal tool that it calls Squash to help route problematic code to the right person.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Visual Basic suggests words while a coder types, highlights syntax errors and makes bug hunts easier by jumping straight to the problematic code - even when the error is one of logic rather than letters.

News & Media

BBC

Even babies can be labeled as potential failures with problematic code words such as "at risk".

News & Media

Huffington Post

To avoid having this problem when we run this program, we can enclose the "problematic code" in a try-catch statement.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

By contrast, the potentially-problematic coding provides a larger sample, but we are less confident that the data represent administration rather than documentation practices.

The Sellout's ideas are too "problematic"—"the code word black thinkers use to characterize anything or anybody that makes them feel uncomfortable, impotent and painfully aware that they don't have the answers to questions and assholes like me".

News & Media

The New Yorker

The Sellout's ideas are too "problematic" — "the code word black thinkers use to characterize anything or anybody that makes them feel uncomfortable, impotent and painfully aware that they don't have the answers to questions and assholes like me".

News & Media

The New Yorker

This seems to conflict with the requirement translation answer above: Why do developers see multiple languages as beneficial for encoding requirements, but problematic for code understanding?

"How come people don't care that their programs aren't correct and that programmers aren't writing programs that they intended to write?" Yang reckons there has been a shift in attitude in recent years, with more attention being paid to the problem of problematic legacy code design because of increased concerns around privacy and security online.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Location data are less problematic than diagnostic code data, but needed further attention in our attempt to make the method more robust.

Alternative solutions such as mapping of the APACHE IV diagnosis to ICD-9 codes are problematic, as the ICD-9 coding in the ICU is often delayed until after hospital discharge.

Science

BMJ Open
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When addressing “problematic code”, prioritize clear documentation of the specific issues and potential risks associated with it. This allows for informed decision-making regarding refactoring or replacement.

Common error

Avoid simply patching “problematic code” without investigating the underlying design flaws or coding practices that led to its creation. This can result in recurring issues and technical debt.

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

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

4.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "problematic code" functions as a descriptive term, typically acting as an adjective modifying the noun "code". As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English and it serves to highlight issues, bugs, or difficulties associated with a specific piece of code.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "problematic code" accurately describes code riddled with issues, bugs, or maintainability concerns. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English. Predominantly used in science, news, and business contexts, it serves to pinpoint and categorize code demanding immediate attention or potential refactoring. Alternatives such as "difficult code" or "flawed code" can also be used based on the specific situation.

FAQs

How can I identify "problematic code" in a project?

Look for code sections with high complexity, frequent bug reports, poor test coverage, or code that's difficult to understand or modify. Code analysis tools can help pinpoint potential areas of "problematic code".

What are some strategies for dealing with "problematic code"?

Strategies include refactoring, rewriting, or isolating the “problematic code” with clear interfaces. The best approach depends on the severity and impact of the issues.

What's the difference between "problematic code" and "legacy code"?

"Problematic code" refers to code that is causing issues or is difficult to work with due to bugs, complexity, or other factors. "Legacy code", on the other hand, is simply older code that may or may not be problematic.

What can I say instead of "problematic code"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult code", "flawed code", or "troublesome code" depending on the context.

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Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

4.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: