What Does "to make matters worse" Mean?
- Grammatical function: This expression serves as a multi-word connective or adverbial phrase. Its primary function is addition with emphasis, specifically used to introduce a new fact or event that intensifies an already negative situation.
- Typical sentence position: It most commonly appears in the initial position to frame the following clause, but it can also appear in the medial position (often after a subject or auxiliary verb) or the final position.
- Register: It is a neutral to formal expression. While frequent in journalism and academic writing, it is also perfectly acceptable in standard spoken English.
How to Use It
- Syntactic patterns: When starting a sentence, it is typically followed by a full independent clause. If used medially, it often follows a verb like "seemed" or "appeared" (e.g., "It seemed to make matters worse").
- Punctuation rules: When used at the beginning of a sentence, it must be followed by a comma. In the middle of a sentence, it is often set off by commas if it acts as a parenthetical insertion.
- Grammatical flexibility: The phrase is an idiom and is generally inflexible. You cannot negate it (e.g., "to not make matters worse" is rare and usually replaced by "to avoid making things worse") or change the plural "matters" to singular.
- What sounds unnatural: Placing it between a verb and its direct object or using it to introduce a positive development sounds incorrect.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from to make matters worse on Ludwig.guru.
"To make matters worse, there is urgency." — washingtonpost.com
"AND, to make matters worse, demographics play a part." — berkeley.edu
"Weeks of negotiation seemed to make matters worse." — economist.com
"To make matters worse, some nations have become unmanageable." — nytimes.com
"Then, to make matters worse, an earthquake strikes." — nytimes.com
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/to+make+matters+worse
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| furthermore |
More formal; used in academic writing to add another point of information. |
| to add insult to injury |
Idiomatic; specifically emphasizes a personal slight or humiliation following a loss. |
| what's more |
Neutral register; used to add information that is even more important or surprising. |
| on top of that |
More informal/conversational; used to list a series of unfortunate events. |
| worse still |
Concise and emphatic; often used to introduce the most negative point in a list. |
| exacerbating the situation |
Very formal; used in technical or professional reports to describe worsening conditions. |
Common Mistakes
- Missing Punctuation: Forgetting the comma after the phrase when it starts a sentence (e.g., To make matters worse he forgot his keys is incorrect).
- Incorrect Articles or Number: Learners often use the singular form 'to make matter worse' or incorrectly use the definite article 'to make the matters worse'. The phrase is a fixed idiom and must remain to make matters worse.
- Redundancy: Using it alongside other connectors like "and also" without proper comma placement, which can clutter the sentence structure.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| to make matters worse |
Addition / Escalation |
Neutral to Formal |
Sentence-initial or following a linking verb |
FAQs
Where in a sentence can "to make matters worse" appear?
The phrase to make matters worse is highly versatile and can appear at the start of a sentence as an introductory element or in the middle of a sentence. When placed at the beginning, it must be followed by a comma, while in the middle, it often follows a linking verb or is set off by commas as a parenthetical remark.
How does this expression differ from "to add insult to injury"?
While both phrases describe a worsening situation, to make matters worse is a general-purpose connective for any escalating problem. In contrast, to add insult to injury specifically implies that the additional factor is a source of humiliation or personal disrespect on top of an existing physical or financial loss.
Is it correct to say "to make the matters worse" or "to make matter worse"?
No, these are common errors as the expression is a fixed idiom. Learners often use the singular form 'to make matter worse' or incorrectly use the definite article 'to make the matters worse', but the only grammatically accepted version is the plural form without an article: to make matters worse.