quite useless

USAGE SUMMARY

"quite useless" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has no practical value or that has failed to achieve a desired result. For example, "The project was rendered quite useless by a lack of resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

"It makes one quite useless.

The New York Times

I find them quite useless.

The Guardian - Music

("Spare us your excuses/They're quite useless").

The New York Times - Arts

The first he now finds quite useless.

The Guardian - Books

As Oscar Wilde said, "All art is really quite useless".

The New York Times

It was really awful actually and made me feel like my body was quite useless.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

When a gentile Englishman says he has achieved nothing and is really rather useless, he is usually just making conversation, and may well be quite pleased with himself.

The New York Times - Books

So he has not been quite as useless as he likes to proclaim.

The Guardian

It is all quite silly and useless, you may well think.

The Guardian - Opinion

Google can ultimately yank questionable apps that they feel may violate their terms and conditions, but there are quite a few useless apps that manage to stick around anyway.

TechCrunch

However, we do not think that this exercise was useless but quite the contrary.

European Journal of Futures Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add impact, consider pairing "quite useless" with strong verbs or vivid descriptions of the ineffectiveness. For example, "The broken tool was "quite useless" for the intricate task, rendering it impossible to complete."

Common error

Avoid using "quite useless" without specifying why something is useless. For example, instead of saying "The method was "quite useless", say "The method was "quite useless" because it failed to address the core issue."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite useless" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It serves to describe something as being ineffective or lacking practical value. As Ludwig AI highlights, it denotes that something does not serve its intended purpose, rendering it non-functional in a given situation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

23%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "quite useless" is a grammatically sound adjectival phrase used to express that something is largely ineffective or lacks practical value. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It is commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts, indicating a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. For alternative phrasing, consider "completely worthless" or "utterly pointless" to match the intended degree of emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely worthless

Highlights the total lack of value, implying it's not worth any consideration.

totally ineffectual

Stresses the failure to produce the desired effect or result.

of no practical use

Focuses specifically on the absence of utility in a real-world context.

entirely ineffective

Emphasizes the complete lack of effectiveness, suggesting nothing useful can be derived.

absolutely futile

Highlights the certainty of failure, suggesting no effort can change the outcome.

utterly pointless

Focuses on the lack of purpose or reason, making it seem futile.

wholly unproductive

Highlights that the outcome has no positive results.

entirely unavailing

Emphasizes the lack of success despite effort or attempt.

rather ineffective

Weakens the statement compared to the original, showing an average lack of effectiveness.

pretty ineffectual

Is a more casual way of saying that something is 'quite useless'.

FAQs

How can I use "quite useless" in a sentence?

You can use "quite useless" to describe something that is ineffective or lacks value. For example, "The old map was "quite useless" in navigating the modern city."

What phrases are similar to "quite useless"?

Alternatives include "completely worthless", "entirely ineffective", or "utterly pointless", depending on the context.

Is "quite useless" formal or informal?

"Quite useless" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal settings might prefer alternatives like "entirely ineffective".

What's the difference between "quite useless" and "absolutely useless"?

"Absolutely useless" emphasizes a total lack of value, while "quite useless" suggests a significant, but perhaps not complete, lack of value. The choice depends on the degree of ineffectiveness you wish to convey.