worst indicator

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worst indicator" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that is considered the least reliable or most negative sign of a situation or outcome. Example: "The unemployment rate is often seen as the worst indicator of economic health."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It's the worst indicator of honesty.

The Guardian - Film

The best (worst?) indicator of their struggles was that the starter Ilya Bryzgalov, pulled 3 minutes 7 seconds into the second period, fared as well as his replacement, Sergei Bobrovsky, who allowed 5 goals on 18 shots.

The New York Times - Sports

The use of the worst three HI ensures that the WQHI is not too sensitive to any single water quality indicator (such as if only the worst indicator was used), and is also not "buffered" or "smoothed" by using a large quantity (or all) of the indicators.

Environmental Systems Research

We also note that it never happens that MDLS provides the worst indicator value, be it for hypervolume or unary epsilon.

Computers and Operations Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

South Sudan had some of the world's worst indicators for development, health and education even before the war.

The Guardian

Northern Uganda has the worst indicators for the country: the highest rate of HIV and Aids, the highest illiteracy rate.

Independent

The same neighborhood has some of the city's worst indicators for public health, including lower levels of income and education, a high exposure to lead paint, and a shorter life expectancy than neighborhoods within a short radius, essentially the same types of conditions documented in the Kerner Report.

Huffington Post

Angola, Burundi and Mozambique have the worst indicators for maternal and child health.

Globalization and Health

Broken down into sub-regions, women from Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa and men from Latin America had the worst indicators.

BMC Public Health

Even before the earthquake this area had some of the country's worst indicators for health, nutrition and maternal mortality.

Unicef

Reducing peripartum morbidity and mortality will require solutions that take into account the scarce resources and inadequate infrastructure in countries with the worst indicators.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "worst indicator", ensure you clearly define the context and explain why it is considered the least reliable or most negative sign. This provides clarity and prevents misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid using "worst indicator" without providing specific reasons or evidence. Simply stating that something is the "worst indicator" without justification weakens your argument and can be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worst indicator" functions as a noun phrase that describes something as being the least reliable or most negative sign of a particular situation. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in various contexts, such as evaluating honesty, water quality, and health.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "worst indicator" is used to identify the least reliable or most negative sign in a particular situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across different contexts. The examples suggest it is most frequently used in scientific, news, and formal settings. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to provide context and justification when using this phrase. Alternatives such as "least reliable sign" or "poorest measure" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Remember to avoid overgeneralizing and provide supporting evidence when labeling something as the "worst indicator".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

least reliable sign

Emphasizes the unreliability of the sign, rather than its negativity.

poorest measure

Focuses on the inadequacy of the measure to provide accurate information.

weakest signal

Highlights the feebleness or insignificance of the signal.

least predictive factor

Stresses the inability of the factor to forecast outcomes accurately.

most misleading metric

Indicates that the metric is likely to lead to incorrect conclusions.

most deceptive gauge

Suggests that the gauge intentionally or unintentionally hides the true situation.

least accurate barometer

Underscores the imprecision of the barometer in reflecting the state of affairs.

most flawed index

Focuses on the inherent defects and shortcomings of the index.

dubious predictor

Implies that the predictor is questionable and untrustworthy.

untrustworthy metric

Highlights the lack of reliability in the metric's measurements.

FAQs

How can I use "worst indicator" in a sentence?

You can use "worst indicator" to describe a factor that is the least reliable or most negative sign of a situation. For example, "The high employee turnover rate is often the "worst indicator" of poor management."

What are some alternatives to "worst indicator"?

Alternatives include "least reliable sign", "poorest measure", or "weakest signal" depending on the context.

What makes something the "worst indicator"?

A "worst indicator" is unreliable or misleading due to inherent flaws, biases, or external factors that distort its reflection of the true situation.

Is it always negative to identify the "worst indicator"?

Identifying the "worst indicator" can be beneficial as it helps to avoid misinterpretations and focus on more reliable data. It is a critical step for improving the analysis and decision-making process.