would be ruined

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would be ruined" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a hypothetical situation where something is likely to be destroyed or negatively affected. Example: "If we don't take action soon, our chances of success would be ruined."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The friendship would be ruined.

The New Yorker

Our night out would be ruined.

The New Yorker

Her life — her political life — would be ruined.

The New Yorker

Everything would be ruined, wouldn't it, for a smoker?

Independent

If they did, their reputations would be ruined.

The Economist

"A beautiful piece of waterfront would be ruined".

The New York Times

It wouldn't affect him, but my career would be ruined!

The New York Times - Magazine

Did he fear his books would be ruined?

The Guardian - Books

"Its unfair competition and Roman retail would be ruined".

The New York Times

Countless Christmases would be ruined by a turkey.

The Guardian - Opinion

No doubt the bank lobby of that era complained that their business would be ruined.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "would be ruined", ensure the context clearly defines what specific aspect is being ruined, like "plans", "reputation", or "health", for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "would be ruined" in contexts where the negative consequence is minor or easily recoverable. Overusing it can diminish the impact of the phrase when describing genuinely serious situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would be ruined" functions as a predicate in a conditional sentence, expressing a potential outcome or consequence. Ludwig examples show it describing potential negative results to diverse contexts, such as friendship, careers, or even economies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "would be ruined" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey a hypothetical scenario where something faces significant damage or destruction. As Ludwig highlights, it is versatile, appearing in contexts ranging from personal relationships to economic forecasts. While adaptable to various registers, it is most commonly found in news and media sources. When writing, ensure that the subject that "would be ruined" is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Also, while a common expression, avoid overuse in less-critical situations to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would be destroyed

Replaces "ruined" with a stronger term implying complete destruction.

would be damaged

Substitutes "ruined" with a more general term indicating harm or impairment.

would be spoiled

Replaces "ruined" with a term suggesting that something good is made bad.

would be compromised

Uses "compromised" to indicate that something's integrity or quality would be negatively affected.

would be devastated

Emphasizes the severe emotional or physical impact of the event.

would be wrecked

Suggests severe damage or destruction, often in a physical sense.

would be undone

Implies that previous efforts or progress would be nullified.

would fall apart

Indicates that something would disintegrate or fail completely.

would be negated

Replaces "ruined" to emphasize that something would be cancelled or invalid.

would be shattered

Suggests a sudden and forceful destruction of something.

FAQs

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

Use "would be ruined" to describe a hypothetical situation where something faces potential destruction or severe negative impact. For example, "If the rain continues, the crops "would be ruined"."

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

You can use alternatives like "would be destroyed", "would be damaged", or "would be compromised" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is "would be ruined" formal or informal?

"Would be ruined" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and tone than the phrase itself.

What's the difference between "would be ruined" and "would be damaged"?

"Would be ruined" often implies a complete loss of value or usability, while "would be damaged" suggests harm that may be repairable. The choice depends on the severity of the potential negative impact.