Cool MateNo good vs Poor
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
No good
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Poor
Top 1,000 (very common)A1
Most formal: PoorMost common: Poor
| No good | Poor | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nəʊ ɡʊd//🇺🇸 //noʊ ɡʊd// | 🇬🇧 /["/pɔː(r)//pʊə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pʊr//pɔːr/"]/ |
| Meaning | Not acceptable or useful. | Having little money or resources |
| Example | This plan is no good; we need to rethink it. | She is in a poor condition after the accident. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Collocations | no good at all, no good for something, feel no good, it's no good, no good reason | poor health, poor quality, poor performance |
| Antonyms | - | rich, wealthy, affluent |
| Common mistakes | Overusing it in formal writing or speech., 'No good' mistaken for 'not good', which is more common., Using it without context, making the meaning unclear. | Confused with 'pore' (the skin opening), Using 'poor' as a noun (should use 'the poor'), Saying 'poorness', which is not standard |
| Usage notes | Typically used to express dissatisfaction or disapproval. It's informal and may not be suitable in formal settings. | Use 'poor' to describe someone lacking money or in bad conditions. Avoid using it in formal reports where 'underprivileged' might be more suitable. |
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Frequently asked questions: No good vs Poor
What's the difference between No good and Poor?
No good: Not acceptable or useful. Poor: Having little money or resources
Which is more formal: No good and Poor?
Poor is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: No good and Poor?
Poor is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
No good: This plan is no good; we need to rethink it. Poor: She is in a poor condition after the accident.
Can I use No good and Poor interchangeably?
Not always. No good and Poor are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.