turned out badly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "turned out badly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or outcome that did not go as planned or was unfavorable. Example: "The project we worked on for months turned out badly, and we had to start over from scratch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet they'd turned out badly.

The New Yorker

The venture turned out badly & he died.

The New Yorker

Then the Spanish Civil War turned out badly.

The New York Times - Books

He bid his suit, a decision that turned out badly.

The New York Times - Arts

One of them — an interview with Eileen Daspin, of the magazine W — turned out badly.

The New Yorker

"This was a coming-of-age tale that turned out badly".

The New York Times

Other Governmerit undertakings and that covers virtually every major industry — have turned out badly.

The New York Times

It could have turned out badly — another Benghazi — but it wasn't scripted that way.

The Washington Post

That loan turned out badly for the securitization that bought it from the German bank, but it also appears to have turned out badly for many tenants in the more than 1,000 apartments.

The New York Times

In 49 Up, Bassett asked Apted whether he thought she'd turned out badly.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Things also turned out badly between the nuns and TotalFinaElf, France's oil giant.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To avoid monotony in your writing, alternate "turned out badly" with synonyms like "ended in failure" or "resulted in disaster" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Common error

While "turned out badly" is widely understood, it might sound too informal in professional documents or academic papers. Opt for more formal alternatives such as "proved unsuccessful" to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "turned out badly" functions as a phrasal verb indicating a negative result or outcome. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is considered grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Academia

11%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "turned out badly" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a negative outcome or unsuccessful event. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is widespread across various contexts, especially in news and media. While perfectly acceptable in most situations, remember that more formal alternatives might be preferable in professional or academic writing. When aiming for clear and concise communication, "turned out badly" effectively conveys that something did not go as planned and resulted in an unfavorable situation. Don't forget to explore alternative phrases like "ended in failure" or "resulted in disaster" to add variety and nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ended in failure

Focuses on the lack of success as the primary outcome.

resulted in disaster

Emphasizes the calamitous nature of the result.

went awry

Highlights the deviation from the expected or desired course.

failed miserably

Stresses the degree of failure and disappointment.

proved unsuccessful

Formally states the lack of desired outcome.

took a turn for the worse

Implies a change from a previously acceptable state to a negative one.

backfired spectacularly

Emphasizes that the result was not only bad but also the opposite of what was intended.

crashed and burned

Conveys a sense of total and dramatic failure.

bombed completely

Indicates an utter lack of success or positive reception.

fell flat

Suggests a lack of impact or excitement, often used in the context of performances or ideas.

FAQs

How can I use "turned out badly" in a sentence?

You can use "turned out badly" to describe an event, situation, or plan that had a negative outcome. For example: "The experiment "turned out badly", and we had to discard the results."

What are some alternatives to "turned out badly"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "ended poorly", "resulted in disappointment", or "failed miserably" instead of "turned out badly".

Is "turned out badly" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "turned out badly" might be perceived as informal in certain formal contexts. Consider using more formal alternatives such as "proved unsuccessful" or "did not succeed" in those situations.

What makes "went awry" different from "turned out badly"?

"Went awry" suggests that something deviated from its intended course, whereas ""turned out badly"" simply indicates a negative outcome, without necessarily implying a deviation.