substandard

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'substandard' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that falls below an accepted level of quality or something that is not up to the usual standards of excellence. For example, "The hotel was substandard and in need of some serious renovation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The pupil premium is great, but not much help if you are being evicted because of the bedroom tax, or living in a substandard or unsafe home, or missing out on a good breakfast.

The Guardian - Opinion

Refugee advocates said the substandard conditions in PNG's Manus Island detention centre, the very high crime rates in the country and "daily pervasive human rights abuses" were evidence the new arrangements contravened Australia's basic obligations to help refugees who come here.

The Guardian

Özil, who played on the right wing, was substandard, possibly because of the injury and, having been replaced at half-time, he went straight to see Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, the Bayern and Germany medic.

The Guardian - Sport

The decision to build more modern facilities comes after continued criticism of the accommodation provided by Qatar for vast numbers of migrant workers and after Doha admitted substandard and illegal living conditions were still being used.

The Guardian

During his career, Cowell has suggested that people might throw rocks at a substandard singer, that a man's singing voice probably contributed to the break-up of his marriage, and that one contestant looked "like the Incredible Hulk's wife".

The Guardian - Music

Axact denied the allegations in a statement describing the New York Times story as "baseless, substandard, maligning, defamatory, and based on false accusations and merely a figment of imagination published without taking the company's point of view".

The Guardian

A report by the health information provider Dr Foster has suggested that 19 hospital trusts have alarmingly high death rates and hundreds of people are dying needlessly because of substandard NHS care.

The Guardian

Nineteen hospital trusts are today exposed as having alarmingly high death rates in a major report that also reveals how hundreds of people are dying needlessly because of substandard NHS care.

The Guardian

That identification was later rejected as substandard work.

The Guardian

The assessment of the area likely to be affected was "substandard and possibly under-representative".

The Guardian

The immigration minister, Tony Burke, who recently moved women and children off Manus Island because of substandard conditions, said families would not be sent to the centre until it was upgraded.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substandard", be specific about what aspect is not meeting the required standards. For example, instead of saying "The product was substandard", specify "The product had substandard materials and construction."

Common error

Avoid using "substandard" as a catch-all term for anything negative. Instead, identify the precise issue. For example, instead of "The service was substandard", consider "The service was slow and inattentive."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "substandard" is as an adjective. It is used to describe nouns, indicating that they do not meet the required or expected standards. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable term.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

28%

Science

28%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substandard" functions as an adjective used to describe something that fails to meet minimum quality requirements or expected standards. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is frequently found in news, business, and scientific contexts. While "substandard" is a very common term, remember to use it precisely, specifying exactly what aspects are failing to meet standards and avoiding it as a general negative descriptor. Alternatives include "inferior quality", "deficient", and "poor quality", which can add nuance depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inferior quality

Focuses specifically on the aspect of quality being lower than expected.

deficient

Emphasizes a lack or shortage in required qualities or quantities.

poor quality

A general term indicating a lack of excellence or high standards.

low-grade

Suggests a ranking or classification that is below the acceptable level.

second-rate

Implies that something is not the best or of the highest class.

unsatisfactory

Highlights the failure to meet expectations or requirements.

below par

Indicates performance or quality that is less than average or expected.

lacking

Focuses on the absence of essential features or qualities.

inadequate

Suggests something is not sufficient for a specific purpose or need.

mediocre

Implies an average or unremarkable quality, neither good nor bad.

FAQs

How can I use "substandard" in a sentence?

You can use "substandard" to describe something that doesn't meet the minimum quality requirements. For example, "The construction materials used were "substandard", leading to structural issues."

What can I say instead of "substandard"?

You can use alternatives like "inferior quality", "deficient", or "poor quality" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "substandard quality" or "substandard"?

"Substandard" already implies a lack of quality, so saying "substandard quality" can be redundant. It's generally better to simply use "substandard".

What's the difference between "substandard" and "inferior"?

"Substandard" specifically means falling below a required standard, while "inferior" simply means lower in quality or rank. "Substandard" carries a stronger connotation of failing to meet a necessary threshold.