
December 16, 2024
What is an epithet?
If you’ve ever visited the Big Apple or heard the Good Word, you’ve encountered epithets. See epithet examples and their types.
Learn moreThe terms “bad rap” and “bad rep” are often confused. If your neighbor is known around town to be rude and inconsiderate, have they got a “bad rep” or a “bad rap”? The correct answer may surprise you.
In English, there are plenty of misused phrases. Even some of the best writers still mistakenly use the wrong words. A good example is “per say,” when the correct phrase is “per se.” Another phrase that people frequently get wrong is “for all intensive purposes.” The correct one is “for all intents and purposes.”
Fun fact: using a word that’s nearly identical to the actual phrase is known as malapropism. “Bad rap” or “bad rep” is one of these phrases, and it’s easy to see why people are confused. After all, they are only different by a single letter. But if you want to impress others with your writing, it’s important to use the correct phrase.
The term “bad rap” is the correct phrase used to describe someone or something’s bad reputation. It can also be used to describe an undeserved reputation.
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Learn moreEven though most may not realize it, saying someone gets a “bad rep” is incorrect. It’s not hard to see why people use it since “reputation” begins with rep-. In recent years, “bad rep” has occasionally been accepted since it is so widely used, but “bad rap” is the original phrase, so it’s best to stick with the latter. Some even write “bad wrap,” which is also incorrect.
Here are examples of “bad rap” in a sentence:
The word “rap” has a long history. “Rap” meant punishment in the 18th century. For example, a student might get a rap across the knuckles for misbehaving in class. In the 19th century, “rap” became slang for a prison sentence. If one “beat the rap,” for example, it meant they avoided a prison sentence.
Have you ever heard the term “rap sheet?” The best way to remember that “bad rap” is the correct term is to remember “rap sheet,” a slang used to describe someone’s criminal record. Someone with a long rap sheet has been arrested many times. Or you could remember that “rap” can also mean a sharp blow, and a “bad rap” is a blow to someone’s reputation.
Aside from researching slang and phrases to ensure they are correct, a great way to improve your writing is by downloading a writing assistant extension like Microsoft Editor to get instant feedback. Editor checks for grammar, misspellings, capitalization, and punctuation errors across social media, email, online documents, and more.
“Bad rap” is the original and correct phrase here, so start implementing it in your writing. Now that you’ve learned which phrase is correct, you can proceed to write clearly and with confidence.
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