to be useless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be useless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something or someone that lacks utility or effectiveness. Example: "After several attempts to fix the old computer, I realized it was to be useless for my needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You'd have to be useless.

The Guardian - Sport

His left arm appeared to be useless.

The Guardian - Books

Most others turn out to be useless.

The Guardian - Business

The metal turned out to be useless.

The New York Times

Don't pay for treatments found to be useless.

The New York Times

"We consider the radar to be useless," he said.

The New York Times

We can turn what used to be useless wastewater into a new drinking water supply.

University of California, Berkeley

The error causes the files to be useless and also causes acis_bkgrnd_lookup to fail.

Harvard University

Generic skills like those taught at business schools were thought to be useless.

The New York Times

Today, however, this kind of propaganda can prove to be useless and even dangerous.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"But you've got to learn to stand back, and to be useless, and accept it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to be useless", ensure the context clearly indicates what is lacking utility or effectiveness. For instance, "The old software proved to be useless for handling the new data format" provides clarity.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on passive constructions with "to be useless". Active voice can often create a stronger and more direct statement. Instead of "The tool was found to be useless", try "The tool proved useless".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be useless" primarily functions as a predicate adjective phrase, describing a subject's state of lacking utility or effectiveness. This is consistent with how Ludwig presents the phrase in its examples, where it qualifies nouns or pronouns.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

30%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to be useless" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe something lacking utility or effectiveness. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is appropriate across various contexts, from news articles and scientific publications to everyday conversation. While simple, ensure you're using active voice instead of passive when possible and try alternatives such as "to serve no purpose" and "to be of no value".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to serve no purpose

Emphasizes the absence of a beneficial or intended outcome.

to be of no value

Focuses on the lack of worth or importance.

to be ineffective

Highlights the inability to produce the desired result.

to be worthless

Stresses the lack of any significant merit or usefulness.

to be pointless

Indicates a lack of logical reason or benefit.

to be futile

Suggests that any effort is destined to fail.

to be unavailing

Similar to futile, implying that efforts are unsuccessful.

to come to nothing

Highlights that plans and efforts lead to no positive result.

to be unproductive

Focuses on the inability to generate results.

to be impractical

Emphasizes the unsuitability for real-world application.

FAQs

What does "to be useless" mean?

The phrase "to be useless" means something or someone lacks utility, effectiveness, or the ability to fulfill a specific purpose. It indicates that something is not helpful or beneficial in a given situation.

How can I use "to be useless" in a sentence?

You can use "to be useless" to describe objects, skills, or even people in certain contexts. For example, "The broken tool turned out "to be useless" for the task" or "His outdated knowledge proved "to be useless" in the modern workplace".

What can I say instead of "to be useless"?

Alternatives to "to be useless" include phrases such as "to serve no purpose", "to be of no value", or "to be ineffective", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "to be useless" or "to become useless"?

Both "to be useless" and "to become useless" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "To be useless" describes a current state, while "to become useless" describes a process of losing utility over time.