weak over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "weak over" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a standard expression and may lead to confusion without additional context. Example: "The team's performance was weak over the last quarter, leading to concerns about future results."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

October 30, 2013 12.54pm GMT PMQs: the verdict That was an angry performance from David Cameron at PMQs, and I felt Ed Miliband had the best of it – until the unedifying final exchanges, which degenerated into he and Cameron telling each other they were weak over and over again and reflected well on neither of them.

The Guardian

If the dollar stays weak over the year, we will have to take it into account".

The New York Times

Spending on durable goods — washing machines and the like — has been very weak over the past few years.

The New Yorker

China's stock markets have been weak over the past year, seriously underperforming Wall Street or the FTSE.

The Guardian - Money

But it is the glorious victory of the weak over the strong that gets the most emphasis in official accounts.

The New York Times

The revelations on Iran appear designed to neutralise Republican accusations that he has been weak over the issue of Iran's nuclear programme.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

A key conclusion of Francis is that local patient groups in Mid Staffs were weak, over-reliant on uninformed and untrained volunteers, sometimes in dysfunctional relationships and beset with infighting.

The Guardian

Because the state-owned regional banks, or landesbanken, are so weak, over-leveraged, without a viable business plan, and fearful for their own small capital reserves, they are hesitant to make new loans and, at the same time, risk further downgrades by the ratings agencies reporting on their solvency.

The New York Times

The data indicated that a subtle down-regulation of IIS occurs upon weak over-expression of Imp-L2 in the adult.

Aging Cell

We have demonstrated that 2D-SSA can be used to extract signal and noise from images with both strong and weak over- or undercorrection of crosstalk.

BioMed Research International

In addition, many people feel that disposing pharmaceuticals via domestic sewage is unlikely to harm the environment, especially when these pharmaceuticals are "weak" over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a trend or condition that is consistently poor across a period, consider using "poor throughout" or "weak during" instead of "weak over" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "weak over" to describe conditions lasting a period. It's often clearer and more grammatically sound to use "weak during" or "weak throughout" when referring to a timeframe.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "weak over" functions as a prepositional phrase, often intended to describe a condition or state that persists or is experienced across a particular duration or area. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is not standard and may cause confusion.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "weak over" is a prepositional phrase that seeks to describe a state of being weak or ineffective across a certain duration or area. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically incorrect, which may lead to misunderstanding. Despite its frequent appearance in "News & Media" and "Science", clearer alternatives such as "weak during" or "poor throughout" are generally advisable. Ludwig suggests replacing "weak over" with alternatives to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness in writing. Due to its questionable grammatical standing, it tends toward informality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sluggish over

Replaces "weak" with "sluggish", suggesting a slow or inactive state instead of a lack of strength.

frail over

Substitutes "weak" with "frail", implying delicacy or vulnerability.

shaky over

Replaces "weak" with "shaky", suggesting instability or unsteadiness.

low over

Replaces "weak" with "low", indicating a reduced level or intensity.

feeble over

Substitutes "weak" with "feeble", implying a lack of physical or mental strength.

poor over

Replaces "weak" with "poor", suggesting a deficiency in quality or condition.

vulnerable over

Substitutes "weak" with "vulnerable", implying susceptibility to harm or damage.

inadequate over

Replaces "weak" with "inadequate", suggesting a lack of sufficiency or competence.

tenuous over

Substitutes "weak" with "tenuous", implying a fragile or uncertain quality.

weakening over

Focuses on the process of becoming weak rather than the state of being weak.

FAQs

How can I use "weak over" in a sentence?

While not standard, "weak over" is sometimes used to indicate a state of weakness extending across something. Consider clearer alternatives like "weak during" or "poor throughout" depending on the intended meaning.

What can I say instead of "weak over"?

You can use alternatives like "poor during" or "subpar throughout" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "weak over" or "weak throughout"?

"Weak throughout" is generally preferred for its grammatical clarity and wider acceptance. "Weak over" can sound awkward and might not be universally understood.

What's the difference between "weak over" and "weak during"?

Both attempt to convey a state of weakness occurring across a period but "weak during" is more common and grammatically accepted. "Weak over" might be perceived as less formal or even incorrect.