Better ways to say “this is crappy”
Why it can fall flat
“this is crappy”
The other person is likely to hear it as an attack on them, since it gives no reason and no direction, and they get defensive instead of fixing anything. Usually you mean the work misses the standard and has to change.
Say this instead
- 01
I don't think this is working yet. The structure is hard to follow and the numbers on page 3 don't add up. Can we rework it before it goes out?
Coworker · Chat
Naming the problems and proposing a next step keeps this honest with a coworker without making it personal.
- 02
I don't think this draft is ready to share. It misses the brief on pricing and timeline, and I'd rather flag that now than after the client sees it. Can we talk it through?
Boss · Email
Tying your concern to the shared goal makes this easier for a manager to hear when you disagree with work they own.
- 03
This isn't at the standard we need yet. The summary leaves out the key figures and the layout is inconsistent. Please revise it and send it back by Thursday.
Someone you manage · Email
For someone you manage, this is clear and firm because it states the gap, the fixes and the deadline.
- 04
The image files you sent are too low quality for print. Could you send higher-resolution versions by Friday so we can keep to the schedule?
Client · Email
When a client's material is unusable, this keeps the focus on the fault and the fix rather than on them.
- 05
The job description doesn't match what we discussed. The pay band and the duties are quite different, so I don't think it's a fit as written.
Recruiter / HR · Email
A recruiter gets a plain rejection of a poor offer along with a concrete reason for it.
- 06
Quick heads-up: the slides aren't ready for tomorrow. The data looks off and the flow is confusing. Can we fix them this afternoon?
Coworker · SMS
Urgent, short-notice problems suit this one, when a call or a long message isn't practical.
- 07
Honest feedback: I don't think this approach will hold up. The test results show it's slow and error-prone. Can we look at an alternative?
Boss · Chat
Grounding your objection in test results makes a manager more likely to take it seriously.
Examples
Hi Aditi, Thanks for sending the report. I don't think it's ready for the leadership meeting yet. The summary is long, and the sales figures on page 2 don't match the spreadsheet. Could you fix those and send a shorter version by Wednesday noon? Thanks, Stuart
Hi Rory, I looked at the landing page draft. I don't think it's working yet: the headline is unclear and the button is hard to find. Can we go through it together for 15 minutes?
What to avoid
- Calling the person or their effort bad instead of talking about the work and what it needs.
- Giving a verdict with no reason, such as “it's just not good”.
- Sarcasm or exaggeration like “worst ever” or “complete mess” only makes people defensive.
- Criticism sent in a group chat, where others can see it, is likely to embarrass the person.
- Listing problems without saying what a better result looks like leaves the person guessing.