unfortunate for us

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unfortunate for us" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express regret or disappointment about a situation that affects a group of people negatively. Example: "It is unfortunate for us that the event has been canceled due to bad weather."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

He returns often to the question of human freedom – a theme that clearly preoccupied him a great deal and gave metaphysical ballast to his critique of secular modernity: "The privilege I most treasured as a child was that of freedom … Today we use the word only in its political sense, and how unfortunate for us.

The Guardian - Books

And it's unfortunate for us".

The New York Times - Sports

Sometimes goalkeepers get better treatment than the rest of us, and that's unfortunate for us.

The Guardian - Sport

It would indeed be unfortunate for us to raise future generations to expect that they have no expectation of privacy".

The New York Times

It's unfortunate for us as players, but more than just us it's unfortunate for the fans, unfortunate for the people that work at the arenas".

The New York Times

HMRC described the timing of the strike as "very unfortunate for us and taxpayers" but said it could not adjust a statutory deadline.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

"That's an unfortunate position for us as people of faith".

The New York Times

"It's an unfortunate result for us," Jones said, "because I thought we played well enough for a victory".

The New York Times - Sports

"It's an unfortunate situation for us to lose a guy like Shump, the way he's been playing, and what he brings to our team.

The New York Times - Sports

"The unfortunate thing for us is we hoped the Galleria could make improvements," he said, adding that the makeup and fragrance store Sephora would move from the Galleria to the Americana at Brand in January.

Los Angeles Times

And as I happen to love sitting on my windowsill, it's unfortunate for both of us.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unfortunate for us", ensure the context clearly defines who "us" refers to. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

While "unfortunate for us" is generally acceptable, overuse in formal or academic writing can make your tone seem less professional. Consider stronger, more precise alternatives like "detrimental to our goals" or "a significant setback" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unfortunate for us" functions primarily as a statement expressing disappointment, regret, or a negative assessment of a situation's impact on a group. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unfortunate for us" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey disappointment or regret regarding a situation's negative impact on a group. As Ludwig's analysis indicates, the phrase is used primarily in news and media contexts, but it also appears in academic and scientific writing. Its register is neutral, making it suitable for a variety of communication styles. While perfectly acceptable, writers should be mindful of overuse in highly formal settings and consider more precise alternatives when appropriate. Ludwig confirms the validity and widespread applicability of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regrettable for us

Replaces "unfortunate" with a more formal synonym, emphasizing a sense of sorrow or disappointment.

unlucky for us

Substitutes "unfortunate" with "unlucky", focusing on the element of chance or bad fortune.

a setback for us

Shifts the focus to the consequence, highlighting the negative impact as a hindrance to progress.

disadvantageous to us

Replaces "unfortunate" with a more formal and direct term indicating a state of being in an unfavorable position.

to our detriment

Emphasizes the harm or damage caused to the group, suggesting a more serious negative effect.

it's a pity for us

Uses a more colloquial expression to convey a sense of mild regret or disappointment.

sadly, for us

Adds an adverbial modifier to express the feeling of sadness about the situation.

it's our misfortune

Replaces "unfortunate" with "misfortune", emphasizing the experience of bad luck or adversity.

we suffer for it

Highlights the suffering or negative consequences experienced by the group as a result of the situation.

we're at a loss

Expresses a sense of helplessness or inability to overcome the situation, emphasizing the group's disadvantage.

FAQs

What does "unfortunate for us" mean?

The phrase "unfortunate for us" expresses that a particular situation or event is undesirable or disadvantageous from the speaker's or writer's perspective and that of the group they are including with "us".

What can I say instead of "unfortunate for us"?

You can use alternatives like "regrettable for us", "unlucky for us", or "disadvantageous to us" depending on the context.

Is "unfortunate for us" grammatically correct?

Yes, "unfortunate for us" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English sentence structure and is widely used and accepted.

How can I use "unfortunate for us" in a sentence?

You can use it to express disappointment or a negative impact, such as, "It is unfortunate for us that the project was delayed" or "The budget cuts are unfortunate for us as they will affect our research."