useless

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "useless" is a valid and usable word in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has no use, such as an "useless broken toy" or something that is of no use, such as a "useless solution".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If someone puts me in a room, I'll have 25 minutes of absolute quality, then for the rest of the day I'm useless.

The Guardian - Music

Will there ever be a day without issues?" Lewis Cook tweeted: "Southern trains are just useless," while Steve Slack wrote: "Southern Trains.

The Guardian

And just as with the credit-raters, the result is often so unsatisfactory as to be useless.

The Guardian - Opinion

"This body [Moscow district council] is completely useless.

The Guardian

For this reason De Luca is calling no witnesses in his defence, no technical expertise in support of his conviction that the projected tunnel is useless.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It's worse than previous years; we hardly get any electricity and the air conditioners become useless".

The Guardian

Why complain about RBS's timebomb disposal expert's pay when fairly useless footballers and their recently unsuccessful £6m manager get paid so much, asked emailers.

The Guardian - Business

Is he a useless dweeb or a ruthless, power-hungry cad?

The Guardian - Opinion

Then you realise that all the pictures are useless because your thumb was over the lens – and you apparently took each photo while performing some sort of star jump.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Ricky Stuart's Canberra Raiders, hitherto friendless and apparently useless, have won again.

The Guardian - Sport

It's the contrast between yellow skin and curling black hair; the sloping shoulder; the sallow buttock; the nubby, ribby little tits, their useless pink nipples rimmed with spider's legs.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "useless", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject lacks usefulness for. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your statement.

Common error

While "useless" is generally acceptable, in highly formal or professional contexts, consider alternatives like "ineffective" or "unproductive" to maintain a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The word "useless" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something lacking utility or effectiveness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and usable word for describing a lack of purpose or function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "useless" is a common adjective used to describe something lacking utility or purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in written English. While generally acceptable, more formal alternatives like "ineffective" or "unproductive" might be preferred in certain contexts. It's crucial to provide context when using "useless" to avoid ambiguity. From news articles to scientific reports, "useless" appears across various sources, though its frequency is highest in news and media. Therefore, while a versatile term, writers should choose the most appropriate word based on the register and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

of no use

A more literal way to express lack of utility.

ineffective

Describes something that does not produce the desired effect.

fruitless

Indicates an effort that yields no positive results.

worthless

Implies a complete lack of value or merit.

pointless

Suggests having no purpose or reason.

futile

Describes an action that is certain to fail.

in vain

Similar to futile, but often emphasizes the lack of success after effort.

unavailing

Formal term for not being helpful or successful.

non-functional

Implies something is not working or cannot perform its function.

unproductive

Describes something that does not yield any useful output.

FAQs

How can I use "useless" in a sentence?

You can use "useless" to describe something that has no practical purpose or cannot perform its intended function. For example, "This broken tool is now useless" or "Trying to convince him is useless".

What's a more formal alternative to "useless"?

In formal contexts, consider alternatives like "ineffective", "unproductive", or "worthless", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "useless"?

"Useless" is appropriate in a variety of contexts, from informal conversations to more formal writing, but be mindful of your audience and the overall tone you want to achieve. In very formal settings, a more precise synonym might be preferable.

Is "useless" always negative?

Yes, "useless" typically carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of value or purpose. However, the degree of negativity can vary depending on the context and the speaker's intention.