that was bad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that was bad" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express disapproval or disappointment regarding a situation, event, or action that occurred in the past. Example: "After watching the movie, I have to say that was bad; the plot was confusing and the acting was subpar."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Sorry, that was bad.

The Guardian - Sport

"Yeah, that was bad".

The New York Times

"He exemplified anything that was bad about this administration.

The Washington Post

It wasn't just the water's appearance that was bad.

The Guardian

It wasn't the work that was bad.

HuffPost

Dave groans "that was bad news".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

"Yeah, that's bad.

The New Yorker

For banks, that is bad news.

The Economist

For potential investors that is bad news.

Forbes

Don't make friends that are bad.

WikiHow

That's bad science.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that was bad" when you want to express a simple, direct opinion about a past event or action. It is suitable for informal settings and general conversations.

Common error

Avoid using "that was bad" in formal writing or professional settings. Opt for more precise and sophisticated language like "that was substandard" or "that was unacceptable" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that was bad" functions as a declarative statement expressing a negative evaluation or judgment about something that occurred in the past. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and well-recognized. Examples from Ludwig show it used in contexts ranging from personal opinions to assessing events.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that was bad" is a commonly used phrase to express disapproval or a negative assessment of something in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and shows its usage across diverse contexts, mainly in News & Media. While suitable for everyday conversations, it's advisable to use more formal alternatives like "that was unfortunate" or "that was substandard" in professional settings. Remember to use "that was bad" when referring to past events and be mindful of the context to ensure appropriate tone and register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was not good

A simple and direct way of expressing a negative assessment.

that was unfortunate

Replaces "bad" with a more formal term, softening the negative impact.

that was terrible

Emphasizes a stronger negative feeling than "bad".

that was awful

Similar to "terrible" but can also imply something is unpleasant.

that was lousy

A more informal way to express dissatisfaction.

that was disappointing

Focuses on the feeling of letdown caused by the event or situation.

that was substandard

Indicates something didn't meet the required level or quality.

that was unacceptable

Highlights that something is not permissible or tolerable.

that was subpar

Indicates performance or quality below the average or expected level.

that was regrettable

Implies a sense of sorrow or disappointment about something that happened.

FAQs

How can I use "that was bad" in a sentence?

You can use "that was bad" to express your disapproval or disappointment about a past event. For example, "The service at the restaurant was slow, and the food was cold; "that was bad"."

What can I say instead of "that was bad"?

You can use alternatives like "that was unfortunate", "that was terrible", or "that was disappointing", depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "that was bad" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "that was bad" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, it's better to use more sophisticated phrases like "that was substandard" or "that was unacceptable".

Which is correct, "that was bad" or "that is bad"?

"That was bad" refers to a past event or situation, while "that is bad" refers to a present one. For example, "The movie we saw last night was terrible; "that was bad"". "The weather today is awful; that is bad".