very terrible

USAGE SUMMARY

The term 'very terrible' is not correct and cannot be used in standard written English.
A more appropriate phrase would be 'very terrible', 'dreadful', or 'appalling'. For example: 'The news of the accident was very terrible; the entire town was in mourning.'.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was very terrible".

The New York Times

It's very terrible".

The New York Times

Oh, nothing very terrible.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's a very terrible thing.

The Washington Post

"It is a very, very terrible situation".

The New York Times

All very terrible things, unacceptable by modern standards, right?

The New York Times

It is a very unsavory, very terrible situation".

The New Yorker

It's a very terrible thing that you said," he said.

The Washington Post

"That was a very terrible crisis," Dr. Stjernschantz said.

The New York Times

It deals sometimes with very terrible aspects of existence".

The New York Times - Books

It's a very terrible, tragic portrayal of something that happens to this person.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "very terrible" is commonly used, consider using stronger, more precise adjectives like "horrific", "dreadful", or "atrocious" to enhance the impact of your writing.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "very" with adjectives; it often weakens the writing. Replace "very terrible" with a single, more impactful word, such as "horrendous" or "atrocious".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very terrible" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to express a high degree of unpleasantness or negativity. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it's often considered grammatically weak and redundant.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "very terrible" is frequently encountered, particularly in News & Media. However, Ludwig AI suggests that the phrase is considered grammatically incorrect, which is important to keep in mind. As such, while it's understood across various registers, opting for stronger, more impactful adjectives like "horrendous", "dreadful", or "atrocious" can significantly enhance the clarity and forcefulness of your writing. While widely used, mindful selection of vocabulary ensures more precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absolutely dreadful

Emphasizes the extreme unpleasantness or poor quality of something.

utterly awful

Highlights the extremely bad or unpleasant nature of something.

extremely bad

A straightforward way to describe something of very poor quality or nature.

really horrible

Emphasizes the unpleasant and shocking nature of something.

quite appalling

Indicates that something is shockingly bad or of very low quality.

genuinely disastrous

Highlights the catastrophic and harmful consequences of something.

remarkably unpleasant

Focuses on the disagreeable and offensive nature of something.

exceptionally poor

Emphasizes the substandard quality or performance of something.

severe

A more concise way to describe something harsh, intense, or serious in a negative context.

exceedingly unfortunate

Highlights the regrettable and unlucky nature of something.

FAQs

Is "very terrible" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, "very terrible" is considered redundant. Using a stronger adjective like "horrific" or "dreadful" can be more effective.

What are some alternatives to "very terrible"?

You can use alternatives like "absolutely dreadful", "utterly awful", or "extremely bad" depending on the context.

How can I make my writing stronger when describing something as terrible?

Instead of using "very" as an intensifier, opt for stronger adjectives that inherently convey the intensity, such as "atrocious", "horrendous", or "appalling".

Which is better, "very terrible" or simply "terrible"?

While "terrible" on its own is acceptable, avoid "very terrible" because it's considered redundant. Using a more descriptive adjective altogether is a stronger alternative.