be best ignored

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be best ignored" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used to suggest that something is better off not being considered or acknowledged. Example: "In this discussion, the irrelevant comments made by the audience should be best ignored."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

While Sunday's El País column that dismissed Neville as useless because he is English was so weak as to be best ignored, there is concern for Neville.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This might suggest that these wines are best ignored.

The New York Times - Food

Perhaps Mr. Stockhausen is a raving has-been, whose words are best ignored.

The New York Times - Arts

Though they exclude extraordinary items, they include write-offs that companies think are best ignored.

The New York Times

By her flagrant example, Ms. Haines made it clear that any such advice was best ignored.

The New York Times - Arts

The communiqué favourably mentions democracy 12 times, but plenum-watchers learned long ago that this particular count is best ignored.

The Economist

The report contained some pretty dodgy budget figures that were best ignored but the report itself was worthwhile and instructive.

The Guardian - Business

He is not of the view – held by many in the party – that Ukip is best ignored because Farage is primarily taking votes off the Conservatives.

The Guardian

Others — "He rises from his chair and gets ready to crush her with the weight of his eloquence" — are best ignored.

The New Yorker

Boom times, not green A world of troubles Arms and the men Intelligent sentences Culture wars, again Four more weeks ReprintsSuch forecasts are best ignored.

The Economist

On screen the old-school hallmarks of "Flying Swords" begin with a plot so confusing (especially if you have to read subtitles) that it's best ignored.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be best ignored", ensure the context clearly indicates why something should not be considered or addressed. Overuse can make your writing sound evasive; consider more direct alternatives for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "be best ignored" as a default way to dismiss ideas or arguments. While it can be useful, relying too much on passive constructions can weaken your writing. Use it sparingly, and consider whether a more active voice would provide a stronger and clearer message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be best ignored" functions as a predicate in a sentence, expressing a recommendation or judgment that something is better off not being considered or acknowledged. Examples from Ludwig show it applying to arguments, figures, or allegations deemed trivial or irrelevant.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be best ignored" suggests that something should be disregarded, with the implication that this is the most beneficial course of action. Ludwig AI classifies it as grammatically acceptable but suggests that its usage can sound awkward, and notes that alternatives may provide more clarity. It appears mostly in news and media contexts and less commonly in academic or scientific settings. While acceptable, writers should use it judiciously and consider more direct phrasing when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be better to disregard

Replaces "best ignored" with a more explicit emphasis on disregarding.

be wiser to overlook

Substitutes "best ignored" with "wiser to overlook", suggesting a more thoughtful decision to ignore.

be preferable to disregard

Uses "preferable" instead of "best", highlighting the advantage of disregarding.

be advisable to disregard

Replaces "best ignored" indicating it is a recommended course of action.

be more prudent to overlook

Suggests that ignoring is the most cautious or sensible action.

should simply be disregarded

Emphasizes the action of disregarding with an implication of simplicity.

is better left unaddressed

Focuses on not addressing something, rather than actively ignoring it.

is best left unacknowledged

Shifts the focus to not acknowledging something, implying a deliberate decision.

is best left alone

Implies that interference or attention should be avoided.

is better passed over

Uses a more passive phrasing to suggest overlooking something.

FAQs

What does "be best ignored" mean?

The phrase "be best ignored" suggests that something should not be taken into consideration or given attention. It implies that ignoring something is the most beneficial course of action.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "be best ignored"?

It's appropriate when you want to suggest that something is irrelevant, misleading, or counterproductive to consider. For example, "In this discussion, the irrelevant comments made by the audience "should be overlooked"."

What are some alternatives to "be best ignored"?

You can use alternatives like ""should be overlooked"", "is better left unaddressed", or "should simply be disregarded" depending on the context.

Is "be best ignored" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is grammatically acceptable, although it can sound somewhat awkward. It's a passive construction using a modal verb ("be"), an adverb ("best"), and a past participle ("ignored"). Consider more direct phrasing for clarity.