under expectation

USAGE SUMMARY

"under expectation" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is generally used to describe something that didn't meet the desired level or standard. For example:The student's test scores were under expectation.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Four quadrants are used: harder items not achieved (i.e., under expectation when the responded score is less than the expected value on the respective items), harder items achieved, easier items not achieved, and easier items achieved.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

The tribological performance of these coatings, however, was often under expectation in comparison with that of conventional coatings such as TiN, due to their high friction coefficients.

Surface and Coatings Technology

The loser's bracket match between Kings of Urban versus Flipsid3 saw the former wilt under expectation, while Flipsid3 began a resurgent run of form that would take it straight to the final.

Vice

The loser's bracket match between Kings of Urban versus Flipsid3 saw the former wilt under expectation, while Flipsid3 began a resurgent run of form that would take them straight to the final.

Vice

The e ij and e i vanish under expectation.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Independency Chi-2 tests indicate that the number of RGAs and Rpi-genes are under expectation in late blight meta-QTLs (p-value=0.035 under the hypothesis of independency) and over expectation in maturity meta-QTLs (p-value<0.0001).

BMC Plant Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Over-expectation, under-expectation and a lack of knowledge all co-exist among caregivers in this setting.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Demand is strong, but so far has been under expectations.

The Guardian - Business

But neither team has thrived under expectations lately.

The New York Times - Sports

The Nets are struggling under expectations, the Lakers are struggling with themselves.

The New York Times - Sports

"The labor market reform was under expectations," said Tito Boeri, an economist at Bocconi University in Milan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "under expectation", ensure the context clearly defines what the expectation was, and consider quantifying the degree to which it was unmet for greater clarity.

Common error

Don't use "under expectation" without specifying the expectation. Instead of saying "The results were under expectation", clarify with "The results were under the expectation of 10% growth."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under expectation" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a noun or verb to indicate that something fell short of what was anticipated. Ludwig provides examples showing this phrase used in scientific research and news reporting.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "under expectation" describes a situation where something does not meet the anticipated level or standard. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct, although relatively uncommon. Its usage is primarily found in scientific and news contexts to express results that are less than desired or predicted. While grammatically sound, clarity is key: always specify what the expectation was to avoid vagueness. Alternative phrases like "below par" or "failed to meet expectations" offer similar meanings and might be more commonly used depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to meet expectations

This alternative is a more explicit way of stating that expectations were not fulfilled.

underperformed

This alternative is a verb that concisely describes failing to perform as well as expected.

below par

This alternative is a more general term indicating performance that is worse than usual or expected.

below the mark

This alternative idiomatically indicates falling short of a required standard.

not up to scratch

This alternative idiomatically means not meeting the required standard or quality.

not measuring up

This alternative suggests a failure to reach a certain standard or level of quality.

substandard performance

This alternative specifically refers to a level of performance that is lower than what is considered satisfactory.

disappointing results

This alternative highlights the disappointment associated with not meeting expectations.

fell short of projections

This alternative is commonly used in business contexts to describe performance that did not reach projected levels.

less than anticipated

This alternative directly compares the actual outcome with what was expected.

FAQs

How can I use "under expectation" in a sentence?

You can use "under expectation" to describe results, performance, or outcomes that did not meet the anticipated level. For example, "The company's profits were under expectation this quarter."

What are some alternatives to saying "under expectation"?

You can use alternatives such as "below par", "failed to meet expectations", or "underperformed" depending on the context.

Is it more common to say "under expectation" or "below expectation"?

While both are grammatically correct, "below expectation" is slightly more common and may sound more natural to some speakers. Consider the specific nuance you wish to convey when choosing between them.

What does it mean when something is described as "under expectation"?

It means that the actual outcome or performance was less than what was anticipated or predicted. The degree of shortfall can vary, but it always indicates a failure to fully achieve the desired level.