weak through

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "weak through" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a state of being weak due to a specific reason or condition, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "He felt weak through the long hours of work without a break."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

And you get stories that have become weak through inbreeding.

The Guardian - Books

Her hair has become weak through IVF treatment.

Independent

More pessimistic forecasts envision the economy remaining weak through most or all of next year.

The New York Times

Regional publishers need to flex different commercial muscles and build up others that have grown weak through underuse..

The Guardian

He stopped performing at the end of March to recover but still felt weak through "Siegfried" rehearsals.

The New York Times

Machinery orders, a leading indicator of investment, fell by 15.6% in January, suggesting that capital spending will remain weak through this year.Investors, however, shrugged off the gloomy news.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Technology stock prices fell yesterday, in a weak follow-through to Friday's strong advance.

The New York Times

The cryptocurrency space has been dominated by bold claims, weak follow-through, limited utility and plenty of scams.

TechCrunch

Gartner notes that anticipated arrival of Windows 8 helped companies control inventory better, although there was still oversupply because of "rather weak" sell-through.

TechCrunch

He sees gold prices weaker through mid-2016.

The Guardian - Business

"Our democracy and public life are weaker through missing the skills, experience and talents of over half the population.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey a weakened state resulting from a specific cause, consider using clearer alternatives such as "weakened by" or "compromised by" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "weak through" to imply direct causation; instead, clarify the cause-and-effect relationship by specifying the agent that induces weakness using phrases such as "weakened by", "due to", or "as a result of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "weak through" functions as an adjective phrase, attempting to describe a state of being weak as a consequence of something. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, its usage isn't grammatically precise and may lack clarity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

23%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "weak through" aims to convey a state of being weak due to a specific cause or condition. However, Ludwig AI points out that this construction is not grammatically correct and lacks clarity. The phrase appears in news, scientific, and wiki sources, but its ambiguity limits its suitability for formal contexts. Alternatives like "weakened by" or "compromised by" provide more precise and grammatically sound ways to express the intended meaning. While its usage isn't widespread, understanding its intended function helps in choosing more effective and accurate phrasing. Due to its questionable grammar and unclear meaning, it's best to use alternative phrases to ensure your message is conveyed effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weakened by

Directly states a reduction in strength caused by something.

compromised by

Specifies a condition that reduces effectiveness or strength.

vulnerable due to

Emphasizes susceptibility caused by a particular factor.

impaired because of

Highlights the negative impact of a cause on functionality.

ineffective because of

Highlights the lack of desired outcome owing to a particular reason.

undermined by

Indicates a gradual weakening as a result of something.

diminished by

Suggests a reduction in power or quality due to an influence.

affected by

Broadly indicates influence, often negative, from an external factor.

limited by

Highlights restrictions imposed by specific conditions.

attenuated by

Focuses on a lessening in force or intensity because of an action or event.

FAQs

How can I use "weak through" in a sentence correctly?

While "weak through" is not standard English, it can sometimes imply a cause of weakness. To be clearer, replace it with alternatives like "weakened by", which directly indicates a cause.

What are some alternatives to "weak through" that sound more natural?

Instead of "weak through", consider using phrases such as "vulnerable due to", "compromised by", or "impaired because of" for better clarity.

Is there a difference between saying "weak through" and "weakened by"?

Yes, "weakened by" is grammatically correct and clearly expresses that something has caused a reduction in strength. "Weak through" is less common and can sound awkward; using "weakened by" provides a more direct and easily understood connection.

What does it mean when something is described as "weak through" a particular condition?

The phrase suggests that the condition is the reason for the weakness. For example, "the economy remained weak through 1762" means the economy was weak during that year. To improve clarity, consider rephrasing it to something like "the economy remained weak until 1762" or better yet, "the economy was weakened by factors such as ongoing war".