Pick the pithy, slangy, semi-rude phrase "garbage in, garbage out" when you want to quickly blame the bad input for the bad output.

Or, just use the acronym, GIGO, if you're pretty sure your readers will get it.

Although you might be complaining about useless computer output, you could be talking about the useless results of anything that occurred as a result of bad input or spotty effort, like a paper, a speech, a project, a program, a diet, or an exercise plan.

As we'll see in the examples below, many writers are still glossing this term when they use it: defining it explicitly to help the reader out. You might want to do that, too, depending on who your audience is.

Lastly, I've heard some people use this phrase in reference to people, even children, as in "The kids show up to tenth grade with no reading skills; of course their exam scores are low. Garbage in, garbage out." That seems awfully cruel, doesn't it? I'd recommend not using GIGO in reference to people.

"The phrase 'Garbage In, Garbage Out' dates back to 1957. That's how long we've known that a computer that operates on bad data will barf up bad conclusions."
— Cory Doctorow, Medium, 26 July 2023

"Artificial so-called intelligence is hardly immune to a dynamic that computer experts long ago dubbed 'GIGO' — garbage in, garbage out. With AI, no matter how sophisticated it might seem, the consequences in war are apt to be horrific."
— Norman Soloman, Salon, 26 August 2023

has this page helped you understand "GIGO"?

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

Thanks for letting me know!
If you have any questions about this word, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

study it:

Explain the meaning of "GIGO" without saying "you get out what you put in" or "wrong input yields useless output."

try it out:

Fill in the blanks: "I can't (create or accomplish something good) with (bad raw materials of some kind). Garbage in, garbage out."

Example: "I can't seem to make a meal I enjoy with vegan proteins. Garbage in, garbage out."

If you like, use this space to write. (To save your work, copy and paste it into an email or a document.)

before you review, play:

Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.

Our game this month is "Market That Makeup!"

Check out the names given to the shades in a palette, and decide what to call the shade with the missing name. You might channel the vibe established by the other shade names, or just pick the weirdest or most grandiloquent name you can think of. To see the shade's real name—the one that the marketing team picked—scroll all the way down. 

Try this one today:

Pacifica Beauty's "Stellar Gaze" palette includes shades like "Cosmos," "Sky," "Orion," "Celeste," and "Blue Moon."

Invent a name for the two-toned shade on the fourth row down, second from the left:

(Source)

review this word:

1. A near opposite of GIGO is

A. finding a silver lining.
B. spinning straw into gold.
C. making a decision while angry.

2. Well, _____, so, GIGO.

A. I played a carnival game that looked easy but wasn't
B. I used cheap brushes and crusty old paints and then hated my painting
C. I overspent on nonessentials and then had to tighten next month's budget

Answers to the review questions: 1. B 2. B Answer to the game question: Any name you chose is great! The company chose "soleil." (Source)

a final word:

I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From my blog: On vocabulary...       36 ways to study words.       Why we forget words, & how to remember them.       How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. On writing...       How to improve any sentence.       How to motivate our kids to write.       How to stop procrastinating and start writing.       How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count. From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.