what a folly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what a folly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express disbelief or criticism regarding a foolish action or idea. Example: "After seeing the consequences of his decision, I couldn't help but exclaim, what a folly it was to ignore the warnings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

NO ONE can agree what a folly is exactly, or what it isn't.

The Economist

"What a folly the whole thing is," one teacher said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The New York Times

If anything, this report actually underscores what a folly it was to let Lehman Brothers fail, since it suggests that the economy, while weak, was at least limping along through mid-September.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Follies -- what a curious show.

Huffington Post

It was what you'd call a folly, a collection of individuals doing exactly what they felt.

The Guardian - Arts

Last September, he took on what seemed to be a folly: playing the suites outdoors, in front of more than 17,000 people in Los Angeles.

The New York Times - Arts

What immeasurable folly!

HuffPost

"I needed to understand what the follies as a genre meant in the American imagination, and then what had happened in the US between 1941 (when the fictional Weismann Follies ended) and 1971, when the reunion takes place.

The Guardian

So there are things like that we do in government, that we can't do... all we can do in opposition is protest.What folly, not least because a properly functioning media market overseen by objective regulators is rather an important public good.But the Telegraph does not come out of this smelling too pretty.

The Economist

I am not an architect, so what folly of hubris led me to believe that mere software could somehow circumvent all the training real architects must undertake?

The New York Times - Tech

But even a glancing review of the information we do have suffices to show what folly it would be to pretend that those lists offer a reliable measure of who is truly dangerous.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what a folly" to express strong disapproval or highlight the foolishness of a past action, often with a sense of regret or disbelief.

Common error

Avoid using "what a folly" in highly formal or academic writing; opt for more neutral and precise language like "mistake" or "error in judgment".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what a folly" functions as an exclamatory expression. It conveys a strong sense of disapproval, regret, or disbelief regarding a particular action or situation. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for expressing criticism.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what a folly" is a grammatically correct exclamatory phrase used to express disapproval or regret about a foolish action or decision. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its usage is relatively rare and leans toward neutral to slightly formal contexts, primarily appearing in news and media. Alternatives such as "what a mistake" or "how foolish" might be more common in everyday conversation. When using "what a folly", consider the context to ensure it aligns with the desired tone and formality level.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what a mistake

Replaces "folly" with a more direct term for an error in judgment or action.

what foolishness

Substitutes "folly" with a more common term for foolish behavior or a foolish act.

what an absurdity

Emphasizes the ridiculous or nonsensical nature of the action or idea.

what a blunder

Indicates a significant and often embarrassing error.

what a lapse in judgment

Focuses specifically on the poor decision-making involved.

what a shortsighted decision

Highlights the lack of foresight in the action taken.

how unwise

A simple and direct way to express the lack of wisdom in the action.

what a foolish act

Emphasizes the foolishness of the deed itself.

what a preposterous idea

Highlights the absurdity and lack of sense in the concept.

what a regrettable decision

Focuses on the negative consequences and the feeling of regret associated with the choice.

FAQs

How can I use "what a folly" in a sentence?

You can use "what a folly" to express disbelief or criticism about a foolish action or decision. For example, "What a folly it was to ignore the expert's advice!"

What's a more formal alternative to "what a folly"?

In more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "what a mistake", "what an error in judgment", or "how unwise".

Is "what a folly" a common expression?

While grammatically correct, "what a folly" is not as commonly used as alternatives like "what a mistake" or "how foolish". Its usage leans towards literary or expressive contexts.

What is the difference between "what a folly" and "what foolishness"?

"What a folly" implies a specific instance of foolish behavior or a foolish action, often with a tone of regret. "What foolishness" is a more general term referring to foolish behavior or the quality of being foolish.