will be awful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "will be awful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to predict or express a negative expectation about a future event or situation. Example: "If we don't start preparing now, the presentation will be awful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

"Monday will be awful.

The New Yorker

The food will be awful.

The New York Times - Sports

Most will be awful.

The Guardian - Tech

Whatever the outcome, it will be awful.

The New York Times - Arts

"Tonight will be awful," he said.

The New York Times

He said, "It will be awful if I never return".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

"I feel I should try," my patient told me, "but I know she'll be awful to me".

The New York Times - Health

"It'll be awful," she mutters.

Vice

Army should improve on its 36.3percentt shooting last year with the help of Spatola (12.1 points), but will still be awful in its fourth year under Coach Pat Harris.

The New York Times - Sports

And it seems when all other goodness in the world fails the weather will also be awful, your car gets stuck in the snow, your wood pile proves insufficient to a polar vortex.

Huffington Post

Try tasting a bit, it will probably be awful.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "will be awful", consider the context and audience to ensure the level of negativity is appropriate. Overuse can sound dramatic, while understatement might not convey the seriousness of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "will be awful" in formal or professional writing. Opt for more nuanced and professional alternatives like "will be suboptimal" or "will have detrimental effects" to maintain a suitable tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will be awful" functions as a future-tense adjective phrase, predicting that something will be of very poor quality or highly unpleasant. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English, showcased through many examples in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

18%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "will be awful" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a negative prediction about something in the future. Ludwig AI confirms this, providing multiple examples from reputable sources. While frequently used in news and media, its informality suggests caution in formal contexts, where alternatives like "will be suboptimal" might be more appropriate. Consider the audience and desired tone when choosing whether to use "will be awful" or a more nuanced alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will be terrible

Replaces "awful" with a more common synonym, maintaining the negative connotation.

will be dreadful

Uses a more formal synonym for "awful", slightly increasing the intensity of the negative feeling.

is going to be bad

Changes the auxiliary verb while retaining a similar negative sentiment.

will be unpleasant

Substitutes "awful" with a milder, more general term for something undesirable.

will go badly

Shifts the focus from the quality of the experience to the outcome of an event.

will turn out poorly

Similar to "will go badly" but emphasizes the final result rather than the process.

will be a disaster

Increases the severity of the outcome, indicating a complete failure or catastrophe.

will be a nightmare

Emphasizes the stressful and disturbing nature of the future experience.

will not be good

Offers a more understated way of expressing a negative expectation.

will be suboptimal

Replaces "awful" with a more technical and less emotive term, suitable for professional contexts.

FAQs

What does "will be awful" mean?

The phrase "will be awful" expresses a strong negative expectation about something in the future. It suggests that the event or situation is expected to be very unpleasant, undesirable, or of poor quality.

What are some alternatives to "will be awful"?

You can use alternatives such as "will be terrible", "will be dreadful", or "will be unpleasant" depending on the specific context and the desired level of formality.

Is it appropriate to use "will be awful" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "will be awful" might be too informal or dramatic for formal writing. Consider using more neutral or professional alternatives like "will be suboptimal" or describing the specific negative consequences you anticipate.

How can I make "will be awful" sound less harsh?

To soften the phrase "will be awful", you can use milder alternatives such as "will not be good" or "will be unpleasant". You can also provide specific reasons for your negative expectation, which can make the statement seem more reasonable and less like a blanket judgment.