terribly written

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "terribly written" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a piece of writing that is poorly constructed or lacks clarity and coherence. Example: "The article was so terribly written that I struggled to understand the main point."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

I dated a terrible writer who beat me and sent me death threats that were more terribly written than some child's diary.

The New York Times

You're saying it's a terribly written script?

The New York Times

[It was] under Simon Tisdall's terribly written article, 'Omar al-Bashir is no Bogeyman'.

The Guardian - Opinion

I like to think it's because the story is terribly written.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I thought it was terribly written — really awful in terms of the literature, but it was entertainment.

The New York Times

"It doesn't change the fact that this is a terribly written law that creates massive problems," he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

In one of the later letters, dated May 30 , 1960 he wrote: "I have worked terribly hard – written over 100,000 words since the end of January and every day when finish too tired to write letters".

The New York Times

In 1960, the writing was clearly progressing well, as Hemingway wrote: "I have worked terribly hard – written over 100,000 words since the end of January and every day when finish too tired to write letters.

The Guardian - Books

Yet Bernstein procrastinated terribly while writing the work, and in places it seems a rush job, for example the First Introit, a brassy, marching rondo for full forces that tries for a Shostakovich-like ironic edge but lacks harmonic bite.

The New York Times - Arts

"He was terribly distressed," wrote Vyvyan many years later, "and the hackneyed expression 'he never smiled again' was for him almost true... Shortly before he was killed by a German sniper in the first war he wrote to me: "I was nine years old when I saw the first placard.

The Guardian

"It's been a pleasure working with someone as talented and funny and kind as Kim; everyone is going to miss her terribly," Rhimes wrote.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "terribly written", provide specific examples of the writing's shortcomings to support your claim, such as unclear arguments, grammatical errors, or poor structure.

Common error

Avoid using "terribly written" as a general insult without offering constructive feedback. It's more effective to point out specific weaknesses and suggest improvements rather than simply dismissing the writing's quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "terribly written" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun, describing its quality. It indicates a significantly low standard of writing. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English and commonly used across various sources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

12%

Reference

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

8%

Unknown/unmatched sources

14%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "terribly written" serves as a critical descriptor for writing lacking in quality. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While grammatically sound, its usage should be thoughtfully considered, especially in formal settings, to avoid sounding overly harsh. Common alternatives include "poorly written" or "badly written". The frequency of "terribly written" is common and predominantly used in News & Media, demonstrating its broad applicability across diverse contexts. When employing this phrase, it's best practice to offer specific examples supporting your judgment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

poorly written

Replaces "terribly" with "poorly", indicating a lower quality of writing.

badly written

Substitutes "terribly" with "badly", suggesting a lower standard of writing quality.

shoddily written

Replaces "terribly" with "shoddily", implying that the writing is carelessly or hastily done.

atrociously written

Substitutes "terribly" with "atrociously", indicating an extremely poor quality of writing.

appallingly written

Replaces "terribly" with "appallingly", suggesting the writing is shockingly bad.

horrendously written

Substitutes "terribly" with "horrendously", indicating a dreadful quality of writing.

amateurishly written

Replaces "terribly" with "amateurishly", suggesting the writing lacks professional skill.

ineptly written

Substitutes "terribly" with "ineptly", implying the writing is unskilled and clumsy.

clumsily written

Replaces "terribly" with "clumsily", suggesting the writing is awkward and ungraceful.

crudely written

Substitutes "terribly" with "crudely", indicating a lack of refinement or sophistication in the writing.

FAQs

What does "terribly written" mean?

The phrase "terribly written" describes writing that is of very poor quality, often due to grammatical errors, unclear structure, or a lack of coherence.

What are some alternatives to "terribly written"?

You can use alternatives such as "poorly written", "badly written", or "atrociously written" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to say something is "terribly written" in a formal setting?

While grammatically correct, saying something is "terribly written" can sound harsh in formal settings. Consider using more professional alternatives like "the writing needs significant improvement" or "the document lacks clarity".

How can I use "terribly written" in a sentence?

You can use "terribly written" to describe various forms of content. For example: "The essay was so "poorly written" that it was difficult to understand the main argument."