they are worst

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they are worst" is not correct in standard English.
The correct form would be "they are the worst." Example: "In my opinion, they are the worst team in the league this season."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Why they are worst in the league in third-down conversions (7 of 42)?

The New York Times - Sports

Unsurprisingly they are worst for Greece, whose economy is now expected to contract for four successive years.

The Economist

The closest team to leaders Lyon is now Toulouse, which one France Football journalist claimed was an indictment of Ligue 1. "They are worst football-playing team ever to be second in France and their only tactic is to put ten men behind the ball and take advantage of a mistake".

The Guardian - Sport

Travel agent: "OK, I can offer you a cruise around the Greek islands then?" Man: "But there have been so many cruise-liner incidents …" Travel agent: "In that case, I can offer you a coach tour of Europe?" Man: "But the road accidents – they are worst of all!" Travel agent: "Oh, I think I have just the ticket – a walking tour, but I must warn you: it has sexual overtones".

The Guardian

A caveat about lawyers and law professors: They are "worst case scenario" thinkers.

HuffPost

These attitudes have consequences - and they are worst of all for gay Muslims, who have to live a sham half-life of lies, or be shunned by their families.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Bahram Bekhradnia of the Higher Education Policy Institute, in Oxford, says they are worst-placed to cope with the cuts.

The Economist

While the stories described are devastating for the families involved, they are worst-case scenarios that do not represent the majority of twin pregnancies and outcomes.

The New York Times

The war on terror depends on the most unprecedented cooperation in American history, the thing they're worst at.

The New York Times

They are they worst friends ever.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"They are the worst of all worlds.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct superlative form, "they are the worst", to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid omitting the definite article "the" before "worst". Saying "they are worst" is grammatically incorrect. Always use "they are the worst" when comparing and indicating the lowest degree of quality or performance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they are worst" functions as an attempt to express a superlative comparison. However, Ludwig AI, confirms that the phrase is grammatically incorrect. The correct form requires the definite article "the".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "they are worst" attempts to convey a superlative comparison, it is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct form is "they are the worst". Although examples can be found in various sources, including news and media, the error significantly impacts the phrase's credibility and clarity. Always ensure the inclusion of the definite article "the" for accurate and effective communication. Consider using alternatives like "they are the least effective" or "they are the poorest performing" depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they are the worst

Adds the definite article "the" for grammatical correctness, indicating a superlative comparison.

they are the poorest performing

Substitutes "worst" with a more descriptive and professional alternative suitable for formal contexts.

they are the least effective

Replaces "worst" with a less absolute term, softening the criticism while maintaining a negative evaluation.

they are the least successful

Replaces "worst" with "least successful", focusing on outcomes rather than inherent qualities.

they are at their worst

Modifies the phrase to indicate a temporary state of poor performance or condition.

they are the bottom ranked

Uses the specific term "bottom ranked" which is appropriate when items are classified in a structured manner.

they are the most inadequate

Uses "inadequate" to convey a lack of suitability or effectiveness, offering a nuanced critique.

they are failing the most

Expresses the idea of underperformance through the verb 'failing', suggesting a process of decline.

they are the most detrimental

Replaces "worst" with "most detrimental", expressing that the items do the most harm.

they are exceptionally bad

Replaces "worst" with "exceptionally bad" expressing a subjective opinion.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "they are worst"?

The grammatically correct way to express this idea is to say "they are the worst". The addition of "the" makes it a proper superlative.

What can I say instead of "they are worst"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "they are the least effective", "they are the poorest performing", or "they are at their worst".

Is "they are worst" grammatically correct?

No, "they are worst" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "they are the worst", which uses the superlative form properly.

What's the difference between "they are worst" and "they are the worst"?

"They are worst" is grammatically incorrect, while "they are the worst" is the correct superlative form used to indicate the lowest degree of something.