Bad vs. Badly

Hello, you have A Way with Words.

Hi, my name is Kim Gregory, and I’m calling from Menasha, Wisconsin.

Hi, Kim.

Hello, Kim.

How are you?

What’s going on?

I have a question regarding the use of the word bad versus badly.

Okay, let’s hear it.

I teach fifth grade to a bright group of fifth graders at Clayton Elementary School,

And we’ve been working diligently on our reading response journals.

And in one of the journals, I had corrected the word bad and made reference to that it should be used badly.

And the mom and the dad and the daughter were very good about going through the whole reading response journal.

And about a week or so ago, she wrote me a very well-written letter explaining that my correction was incorrect.

And in addition to her note, she had included some grammarian blogging on the topic.

And her opinion is that when you use the word bad in reference to an emotion, that you shouldn’t say, I feel badly.

You should say, I feel bad.

So it was kind of like an enlightening moment for me because I guess I never made a distinction between the emotional part of I feel badly versus, and in the blogging they did, it was when you use the word badly, it should be because your hands are tingling and you have kind of like a weird sensation in your hand.

The conclusion is you’ve presented it to us is correct, particularly when you’re talking about verbs followed by verbs related to emotion or the senses followed by adverbs.

Because exactly as they said, if you feel badly, it means your hands aren’t working correctly.

If you feel bad, it means that you’re maybe sick to the stomach or that you’ve done something that you’re ashamed of.

There’s a difference there because bad can be an adverb.

It’s an informal adverb, but it does exist, and most mainstream American and British dictionaries will tell you that.

So in her response journal, when she had written regarding to a character in her book,

I feel bad for this character’s dad because his dream of fruit lands did not come true.

Exactly.

So is it I feel bad for the dad, or I feel badly?

I feel bad.

I feel bad because the key verb there has to do with emotion and feeling.

So then this was a good aha for me.

Yes.

When it refers to emotion, I really do need to say I feel bad.

And that I was never taught.

I never knew that.

You haven’t.

Good.

Well, it’s exciting.

My kids were so excited to know, my students I call my kids,

That I was presenting this to A Way with Words,

And they thought it was quite official that Martha and Grant were going to be my tell-all on my question.

So I’m excited.

So thank you so much for answering.

You’re welcome.

We are happy for three reasons.

First, that you clearly love your job and that you love teaching your kids.

Second, that you’re doing it with vigor and enthusiasm.

And third, we’re glad that you called us.

Well, thank you.

Thank you so much for your call.

Okay, take care.

Bye-bye.

Take care.

Best of luck.

Bye-bye.

I feel sometimes that we have a classroom on the air.

Don’t you, Martha?

I do.

I do.

And I’m thinking of that Latin proverb that goes,

Quidoset Disket, who teaches, learns.

Isn’t that fabulous?

It’s absolutely true.

It’s 100% true.

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