woefully neglected

USAGE SUMMARY

"woefully neglected" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation, emotion, or thing that has been neglected in a way that is regretful or sad. For example: "The poor cat had been woefully neglected by its previous owners."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Yet China's craft heritage was woefully neglected for much of the past century.

The New York Times - Arts

The overwhelming message was consistent: a condition that personally affects half the population is woefully neglected.

The Guardian

Britain's need for a coherent long-term energy strategy has been woefully neglected by governments of both left and right.

The Guardian - Business

Among them, Hell and High Water – "the making of George Clooney", according to BennyBlanco: "ER is woefully neglected here.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

You can't move forward without one but it is an area of education that has been woefully neglected when it comes to funding and support for students.

Independent

But now even urban India, which has been woefully neglected, is realizing that politicians ignore people who don't vote for them.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

Clearly, at this point in sports, the mind either woefully under-appreciated or thoroughly neglected.

Huffington Post

Long neglected, they may have come from cultures that educate boys but not girls, their schooling may have been interrupted by war or the need to work, or their education may simply have been woefully inadequate.

The New York Times

Unjustly neglected.

The Guardian - Books

Unaccountably neglected".

The New York Times - Arts

Health care was neglected.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "woefully neglected" to highlight a significant lack of attention or care, often implying negative consequences. For instance, "The historical archives were woefully neglected, leading to the loss of valuable documents."

Common error

Avoid using "woefully neglected" for minor oversights or temporary lapses in attention. This phrase is best reserved for situations involving significant and prolonged neglect with demonstrable negative impacts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "woefully neglected" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to describe something that has been seriously and regrettably neglected. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "woefully neglected" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjective phrase that describes something that has been seriously and regrettably neglected. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity and provides numerous examples from reliable sources. It is frequently found in news and media, as well as scientific and formal business contexts. Alternatives include "severely overlooked" and "shamefully ignored", each offering slightly different nuances. When using this phrase, it is important to reserve it for situations involving significant and prolonged neglect to avoid overstating minor issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severely overlooked

Emphasizes the act of overlooking something to a significant degree.

badly disregarded

Focuses on the act of disregarding something in a negative way.

shamefully ignored

Highlights the shameful aspect of ignoring something important.

egregiously unattended

Stresses the egregious nature of something not being attended to.

tragically unheeded

Emphasizes the tragic consequences of something not being heeded.

grievously sidelined

Focuses on something being unfairly sidelined or marginalized.

pathetically underdeveloped

Highlights the underdeveloped state of something in a pathetic way.

lamentably deficient

Emphasizes the regrettable deficiency of something.

terribly mismanaged

Focuses on the mismanagement of something to a terrible extent.

appallingly underdeveloped

Highlights the shockingly underdeveloped nature of something.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "woefully neglected" in a sentence?

Use "woefully neglected" to describe a situation where something has been seriously ignored or not cared for, leading to negative consequences. For example, "The city's infrastructure was "woefully neglected", resulting in frequent breakdowns and disruptions."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "woefully neglected"?

You can use alternatives like "severely overlooked", "shamefully ignored", or "tragically unheeded" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Each alternative highlights a different aspect of the neglect.

Is it appropriate to use "woefully neglected" in formal writing?

Yes, "woefully neglected" is appropriate for formal writing. It appears in reputable news sources and academic publications. However, ensure the context warrants such a strong term.

What's the difference between "woefully neglected" and simply "neglected"?

"Woefully neglected" emphasizes the severity and regrettable nature of the neglect. It suggests that the neglect is particularly bad and has had significant negative consequences, whereas "neglected" is a more general term.