would be awful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would be awful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a negative opinion or prediction about a situation or outcome. Example: "If we don't address the issue soon, the consequences would be awful for everyone involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If we think it would be awful to discard those beliefs, then that awfulness is sufficient reason to hang onto them without any religious scaffolding.

The New York Times

"That would be awful.

The New York Times - Magazine

It would be awful.

Independent

Because that would be awful".

Independent

What would be awful?

The New York Times

I thought it probably would be awful.

The Guardian

Naturally, that would be awful for us.

The Guardian - Sport

Because, I repeat, that would be awful.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Without it, life would be awful.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A US prison would be awful for Gary.

Independent

"It would be awful to get prizes and terrible reviews".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would be awful" to clearly and directly express strong disapproval or concern about a potential situation. It is suitable when you want to emphasize the negative consequences.

Common error

While "would be awful" is widely understood, avoid overusing it in formal writing or professional settings where more nuanced or sophisticated language might be more appropriate. Consider alternatives like "would be detrimental" or "would have severe consequences".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would be awful" functions as a subject complement, specifically an adjective phrase, that expresses a negative evaluation or prediction about a hypothetical situation or event. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which identifies it as grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would be awful" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey a strong negative sentiment about a hypothetical or potential situation. As verified by Ludwig AI, it is widely employed across various contexts, especially in News & Media, indicating its broad applicability. While versatile, it's important to consider the register and opt for more formal alternatives in professional settings where nuance and precision are paramount. Remember to use "would be awful" to clearly express disapproval or concern, emphasizing the negative consequences of a given scenario. Explore alternative phrases like "would be terrible" or "would be disastrous" to tailor your language to the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would be terrible

Uses "terrible" as a synonym for "awful", maintaining the same meaning.

would be dreadful

Replaces "awful" with "dreadful", suggesting something highly unpleasant.

would be horrible

Substitutes "awful" with "horrible", indicating something causing horror or disgust.

would be disastrous

Emphasizes the calamitous nature of the situation, indicating a very negative outcome.

would be unpleasant

Uses a more mild term to express the lack of enjoyment or desirability.

would be unfortunate

Indicates that the outcome would be undesirable and regrettable.

would be regrettable

Highlights that the situation would cause sorrow or regret.

would be unacceptable

Emphasizes that the situation or outcome is not tolerable or permissible.

would be appalling

Replaces "awful" with "appalling", signaling something shocking and wrong.

would be quite bad

Offers a more understated way to express that something would be significantly negative.

FAQs

How can I use "would be awful" in a sentence?

The phrase "would be awful" is used to express that a potential situation or outcome is highly undesirable. For example, "It "would be awful" if we missed the deadline" expresses concern about the negative consequences of missing the deadline.

What are some alternatives to "would be awful"?

You can use alternatives such as "would be terrible", "would be dreadful", or "would be disastrous" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "would be awfully" instead of "would be awful"?

While "awfully" is an adverb, it doesn't fit grammatically in this construction. The correct phrase is ""would be awful"", where "awful" functions as an adjective describing the state or outcome.

What's the difference between "would be awful" and "will be awful"?

"Would be awful" expresses a hypothetical or conditional scenario, while "will be awful" indicates a prediction or certainty about a future event. For example, "It "would be awful" if it rained" suggests a hypothetical concern, whereas "It will be awful if it rains" predicts a negative outcome with more certainty.