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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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which sucks

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

'which sucks' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to express disappointment or dissatisfaction about something. For example: I was hoping for a better outcome, but it didn't happen, which sucks.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Which sucks", says Michael Brunton-Spall.

News & Media

The Guardian

Which sucks, because I wanted it to be so good".

Which sucks because I have three kids and I really liked that job.

BUT does New York, which sucks up $40 million per year in beer, need another?

News & Media

The New York Times

A similar flow of 21-year-olds goes to London, which sucks in about a third of new graduates.

News & Media

The Economist

Some shops use a vacuum system, which sucks the slag off the liquid steel and granulates it instantaneously.

Show more...

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Parody of the phenomenon, found in physics, of black holes, which suck in all existing light.

News & Media

The New Yorker

That was a plastic tube which sucked copy round the building to the typesetters.

News & Media

Independent

The rest fueled a domestic boom, which sucked in imports and caused the peso to become increasingly overvalued.

In the presence of SDS, hydrates grew mainly on the reactor walls as a porous structure, which sucked the solution due to capillary forces.

Car sales, which sucked up a lot of consumer spending during the summer, did not continue their decline.

News & Media

The Economist
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which sucks" sparingly in formal writing. It's generally acceptable in informal contexts to express dissatisfaction or disappointment.

Common error

Avoid using "which sucks" in academic papers or business reports. Opt for more professional alternatives like "which is unfortunate" or "which is less than ideal" to maintain a formal tone.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which sucks" functions as a relative clause providing additional, negative commentary on a preceding statement or situation. As confirmed by Ludwig, it expresses disappointment or dissatisfaction. Examples include: "I haven't received my mail for about one-and-a-half weeks now, which sucks..."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "which sucks" is a grammatically sound and widely used relative clause to express disappointment or disapproval. Ludwig AI confirms its aptness for conveying negative sentiment. While the phrase is versatile in informal contexts like casual conversation, its colloquial nature restricts its use in formal or professional settings. When a more professional or formal tone is required, alternative phrases like ""which is unfortunate"" or ""which is disappointing"" may be more appropriate.

FAQs

How can I use "which sucks" in a sentence?

You can use "which sucks" at the end of a clause to express disappointment or disapproval about something, for example: "I was really hoping for a promotion, but it didn't happen, "which sucks"."

What can I say instead of "which sucks" to sound more professional?

To sound more professional, you can use alternatives like "which is unfortunate", "which is disappointing", or "which is not ideal" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "which sucks" in academic writing?

No, it is generally not appropriate to use "which sucks" in academic writing. More formal phrases like "which is suboptimal" or "which presents challenges" are better suited for academic contexts.

What's the difference between "which sucks" and "which is bad"?

"Which sucks" is a more informal and emphatic way of saying "which is bad". While both express a negative sentiment, "which sucks" carries a stronger connotation of disappointment or frustration.

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Source & Trust

81%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: