rather badly

USAGE SUMMARY

"rather badly" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use "rather badly" when you are comparing something to an expected standard. For example, "I performed on the test rather badly compared to my usual results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Tartag has been rather badly damaged.

The Guardian

Such writing offsets Cain's serious research rather badly.

The New York Times - Books

The home team needs an infusion of confidence rather badly.

The Guardian - Sport

Those advisers, predictably enough, took this rather badly.

The Guardian

The reality is that broadband deployment in Britain is actually going rather badly.

The Economist

The second is that Portugal's other industries have generally done rather badly.

The Economist

One of the secrets of multiculturalism is that many Latinos speak Spanish rather badly.

The Economist

But, as the term "sex comedy" suggests, the film has dated rather badly.

The Guardian - Film

She behaves rather badly on the brief visit and her mother brings her home quickly.

The New Yorker

Without library In the matter of books and studies the French are shown up rather badly.

The Guardian

International studies show that countries with free university education do rather badly at attracting students whose parents never attended university.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather badly" to express a moderate degree of failure or inadequacy, providing a nuanced alternative to stronger expressions like "very badly".

Common error

While "rather badly" is generally acceptable, overuse in highly formal or academic writing may weaken your tone. Consider using more precise or sophisticated vocabulary to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather badly" primarily functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the degree to which an action is performed poorly. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate a moderate level of inadequacy, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

11%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather badly" is a commonly used adverbial phrase to express a moderate degree of failure or inadequacy. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally acceptable, more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic writing. When employing "rather badly", consider the desired level of nuance and the specific context to ensure it aligns with your intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite poorly

Indicates a similar level of inadequacy but uses a slightly different adverb.

pretty badly

Suggests a slightly less formal tone while maintaining a similar degree of severity.

somewhat inadequately

Replaces the colloquial "badly" with a more formal term, altering the register.

significantly worse

Emphasizes the comparative aspect of the poor performance.

noticeably deficiently

Uses more formal vocabulary to express a clear lack of quality.

remarkably inferiorly

Highlights the degree of inferiority, adding emphasis.

considerably worse

Focuses on the extent of the negative difference.

terribly amiss

Employs a slightly archaic tone to convey a serious problem.

distinctly substandard

Indicates a clear failure to meet the required standards.

appreciably poorer

Highlights a perceived lower quality or standard.

FAQs

How can I use "rather badly" in a sentence?

"Rather badly" is used to indicate that something has been done poorly or unsuccessfully. For instance, "He performed "rather badly" in the competition" implies a moderate degree of failure.

What are some alternatives to "rather badly"?

Alternatives include "quite poorly", "pretty badly", or "somewhat inadequately". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it ever incorrect to use "rather badly"?

While generally correct, "rather badly" might be less suitable in extremely formal or academic writing, where more precise language is preferred. In such cases, consider alternatives like "significantly worse" or "noticeably deficiently".

What's the difference between "rather badly" and "very badly"?

"Rather badly" suggests a moderate degree of failure or inadequacy, whereas "very badly" implies a more severe or significant degree. The choice depends on the intensity you wish to convey.