that was ill-advised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that was ill-advised" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a decision or action was not wise or prudent. Example: "Choosing to invest all his savings in that startup was ill-advised, given its lack of a solid business plan."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"But soon after, you see, it was sabotaged by Mr. Musharraf — a misadventure that was ill-advised, ill-executed, poorly planned".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

You're trying to get an out desperately, and the ball's flying around, and you end up making a throw that's ill-advised".

The New York Times - Sports

He emphasized that lawmakers time and again have given prosecutors more leverage and said it was "grossly unrealistic" to criticize district attorneys for enforcing laws that they are duty-bound to uphold — even those that are ill-advised.

The New York Times

It is the manner of the tweet that is ill-advised in my view".

BBC

If you're at a party, avoid drinking, jumping off high surfaces, or doing anything else that is ill-advised just to show off.

WikiHow

How much of that is ill-advised and future nonperforming loans, no one knows".

The New York Times

Tannehill has controlled aggression with most of his attempts but can get impulsive and reckless when he feels pressure in the pocket, and he'll try to squeeze sideline throws that are ill-advised because defenders are hanging off him.

The New York Times

"That is ill-advised at best and unconscionable at worst," said Harold Evensky, a principal at Evensky, Brown & Katz, a financial planning firm in Coral Gables, Fla., that is part of the Alpha Group, an influential caucus of financial planners.

The New York Times

And if, by implication, they led you to believe that buying your own iMac would make you the autocrat of your bedroom, that was ill advised.

The New York Times - Magazine

Today Judge Brinkema granted Mr. Moussaoui's request to represent himself, but only after warning him that he was ill-advised to act as his own lawyer and that his court-appointed defense lawyers were respected litigators who had worked diligently on his behalf.

The New York Times

One by one, he bats away the standard criticisms of Scargill's leadership of the strike: that it was ill-advised to commence the strike in the spring, that he should have held a national ballot ("The miners weren't calling for a ballot – the people who were calling for a ballot were our enemies"), and that in returning to work without an agreement, the miners were left in an impossible position.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that was ill-advised", ensure the context clearly establishes what action or decision is being referred to. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your assessment.

Common error

While "that was ill-advised" is generally acceptable, excessive use in formal writing can make your tone sound repetitive. Vary your language with synonyms like "unwise" or "imprudent" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that was ill-advised" functions as a judgment or assessment of a past action or decision. Ludwig indicates it's usable in written English to convey that something was not wise or prudent. Examples in Ludwig show it used in news, media, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that was ill-advised" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that a past action or decision was unwise. Ludwig confirms that. It finds application across various contexts, predominantly in news and media. The phrase carries a neutral register, suitable for general communication while being slightly less formal than some synonyms. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in the context to avoid ambiguity and enhance the impact of your assessment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was unwise

Replaces "ill-advised" with a more common synonym, simplifying the language while retaining the core meaning.

that was imprudent

Substitutes "ill-advised" with a more formal synonym, adding a touch of sophistication to the expression.

that was a mistake

Simplifies the phrase to a more direct assessment, focusing on the error in judgment.

that was a bad idea

Uses more informal language to convey the same sentiment, suitable for casual contexts.

that was not a good move

Employs a slightly more nuanced expression, suggesting the action had negative consequences.

that was short-sighted

Focuses on the lack of foresight in the decision, highlighting the limited perspective.

that was a blunder

Indicates a significant error or mistake, often implying a lack of care or attention.

that was an error in judgment

Formalizes the expression, emphasizing the flawed decision-making process.

that was poorly considered

Highlights the insufficient thought or planning behind the action.

that was a miscalculation

Focuses on the incorrect estimation or prediction that led to the unfavorable outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "that was ill-advised" in a sentence?

You can use "that was ill-advised" to express that a decision or action was not wise or prudent. For example, "Investing all his savings in that startup "that was ill-advised", given its lack of a solid business plan."

What can I say instead of "that was ill-advised"?

You can use alternatives like "that was unwise", "that was imprudent", or "that was a mistake" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "that was ill-advised" or "that was not well-advised"?

"That was ill-advised" is more concise and commonly used. "That was not well-advised" is grammatically correct but less frequent and can sound slightly awkward.

What's the difference between "that was ill-advised" and "that was ill-considered"?

"That was ill-advised" suggests the action was unwise in its outcome, while "that was ill-considered" focuses on the lack of thorough thought or planning that preceded the action. They are similar, but "ill-considered" emphasizes the process, and "ill-advised" emphasizes the result.