would be foolish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would be foolish" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that a certain action or decision is unwise or imprudent. Example: "To invest all your savings in a single stock would be foolish, given the market's volatility."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Ignoring it would be foolish.

The New York Times

But defaulting would be foolish.

The Economist

It would be foolish".

The Guardian - Sport

She would be foolish not to.

The New York Times

To ignore it would be foolish.

The New York Times

Delay would be foolish politically.

The New York Times

"To disturb that would be foolish".

The New York Times

It would be foolish not to party".

The New York Times - Magazine

"It would be foolish not to".

The New York Times

To run into someone "would be foolish.

The Guardian - Film

But that would be foolish, she says.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would be foolish" to express a strong recommendation against a course of action, particularly when the negative consequences are obvious or predictable.

Common error

While acceptable in many situations, "would be foolish" can sometimes sound too informal or simplistic for highly formal or academic writing. Consider stronger, more nuanced alternatives like "would be imprudent" or "would be ill-advised" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would be foolish" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, expressing a judgment about the advisability of a hypothetical action or situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is deemed correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

6%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would be foolish" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to advise against a course of action that is deemed unwise or imprudent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. It appears most commonly in news and media contexts, although it can also be found in formal and business settings. While generally appropriate, consider more formal alternatives like "would be imprudent" in highly formal writing. With a high expert rating, this phrase offers a clear and effective way to express caution and discourage ill-advised decisions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would be unwise

Replaces "foolish" with a synonym indicating a lack of good judgement.

would be imprudent

Substitutes "foolish" with a more formal term suggesting a lack of caution.

would be ill-advised

Replaces "foolish" with a phrase emphasizing the poor counsel behind an action.

would be shortsighted

Changes "foolish" to focus on the lack of long-term thinking.

would be injudicious

A more formal synonym for "foolish", highlighting a lack of sound judgement.

would be reckless

Replaces "foolish" by suggesting a disregard for potential consequences.

would be a mistake

Simplifies the phrase to a more direct expression of error.

would be irresponsible

Focuses on the lack of responsibility in the action, rather than just foolishness.

would be senseless

Emphasizes the lack of logic or reason behind the action.

would be counterproductive

Shifts the focus to the negative outcomes that would result from the action.

FAQs

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

You can use "would be foolish" to express that a particular action is unwise or not sensible. For example, "It "would be foolish" to ignore the warning signs."

What are some alternatives to saying "would be foolish"?

Alternatives include phrases like "would be unwise", "would be imprudent", or "would be ill-advised", depending on the level of formality desired.

Is it grammatically correct to say "would be foolish"?

Yes, the phrase "would be foolish" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to express that something is not a sensible course of action.

What's the difference between "would be foolish" and "would be unwise"?

While similar, "would be foolish" can sometimes imply a lack of common sense or foresight, whereas "would be unwise" generally indicates a lack of good judgment. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.