Bad vs Badly (Differences, Meaning, Grammar, Examples)

Is it “bad” or “badly?” Do you ever wonder if you’re using the right word? Is it bad or badly? It might seem like a small detail, but getting this one wrong can change your sentence’s meaning and of course, the way you speak.

So, let’s find out how to use these words correctly and make sure your grammar is on point with some examples to help you along the way.

Bad vs. Badly – What’s the Difference

When it comes to the words “bad” and “badly,” it can be easy to use them incorrectly in a sentence. But with just a little knowledge, you can confidently use these words appropriately without any mishap. 

“Bad” is an adjective that should be used to describe nouns and pronouns. On the other hand, “badly” functions as an adverb and should be used to modify verbs. Adverbs are usually misplaced when people use linking verbs, like “to be” and “to feel.”

So if a person had tripped and hurt their knees, they would say, “I feel bad,” because their injury is the subject of the sentence. However, if they had tried to play basketball but kept missing the ball, they would say, “I played badly.” 

Pay attention to whether you’re describing a noun or how something was done, and let that guide your word choice. And don’t worry if you make mistakes; even native English speakers mess it up sometimes.

For instance, instead of saying, “I feel badly,” one could say, “I feel bad.” Learning this difference will bring peace of mind and make your writing shine even brighter.

Examples of how “bad” can be used as an adjective.

• He’s a bad boy.
• Your Spanish isn’t so bad.
• She’s a bad girl.
• They’re bad people.
• This is a bad situation.
• It’s a bad idea.
• I feel bad about what I said the other day.
• The house is in bad condition after the earthquake.
• I got a bad report card.

Examples of how “badly” can be used in a sentence.

• I feel so badly for her.
• He’s been acting so badly lately.
• I can’t believe she would say that so badly.
• This party is going so badly.
• Sam did badly on the test.

Tips to help you remember which word to use in what context

Generally, use “bad” when you’re talking about something that’s harmful or undesirable. Use “badly” when you’re describing how something was done wrong or wasn’t done well.

Here are 5 quick tips to help you remember the difference between these two: 

• Think of the word “bad” as meaning “not good.” 
• Remember that “ly” is always used to modify a verb. So if you want to say something was not done well, use the word “badly.” 
• To help you remember the difference between these two words easily, think about the phrase “healthily eat.” This will give you the proper meaning of how to use it in different contexts. 

In summary

‘Bad’ is an adjective used to describe people or things. It can also be used as a noun, meaning evil or the opposite of good.

Meanwhile, ‘badly’ is an adverb generally referring to the level of ability with which something is done.

So, if you want to say that someone did something very poorly, you could use the word ‘badly.’

I hope you got to know the difference between these two words with this short guide.