bothered to apply

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bothered to apply" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express whether someone made the effort or took the time to submit an application for something, such as a job or a program. Example: "I was surprised that so few candidates bothered to apply for the position, given the attractive salary and benefits."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Few serious architects bothered to apply.

The New York Times - Arts

"The headteacher we've recruited had been approached about other jobs in the past but hadn't bothered to apply," says Whymark.

The Guardian

Officials in the commission's research department complain that many top European scientists cannot be bothered to apply for EU money, because of the number of bureaucratic hoops they have to jump through.

The Economist

His parents brought him and three siblings to the United States when he was 6, but because of the difficulties in acquiring citizenship for minors, they never bothered to apply.

The New York Times - Sports

It calculates that only 22percentt of the 795 patents theoretically available across Africa have been awarded, in most cases because the companies that own the patents have not bothered to apply.

The New York Times

In fact, the nation's most elite colleges and universities are now fully engaged in efforts similar to those undertaken decades ago to increase the enrollment of ethnic minorities: not simply promoting the few lower-class whites who bothered to apply but actively working to increase the number applying altogether.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Yale accepts so few applicants that students with sub-stellar records don't bother to apply.

The New Yorker

He didn't bother to apply to MIT, because his family couldn't afford it.

MIT Technology Review

Kumar did not bother to apply to campuses known to reject candidates below a certain age.

The Guardian - Money

In the days when buyers could get 90percentt financing simply by showing up, developers generally did not bother to apply.

The New York Times

The faculty was united in a conservative view that a public fellowship for graduate students was tantamount to communism; students did not bother to apply.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "bothered to apply", consider the context and ensure it accurately reflects the reason for not applying. Was it laziness, lack of interest, or a perceived futility?

Common error

Avoid using "bothered to apply" when the reason for not applying is due to external obstacles or lack of eligibility, rather than a lack of personal effort or interest. It implies a degree of personal agency that may not be present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bothered to apply" functions as a verb phrase indicating a lack of effort or willingness to submit an application. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable phrase in written English. Examples show it used to convey surprise or disappointment when applications are not submitted.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bothered to apply" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to express a lack of effort or willingness to submit an application. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a functional expression, often carrying a slightly negative connotation, implying surprise or disappointment that someone didn't make the effort. It frequently appears in news and media contexts, as well as in academic writing. While alternatives like "didn't feel like applying" or "didn't make the effort to apply" exist, the phrase "bothered to apply" effectively communicates a specific nuance of indifference or reluctance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

couldn't be bothered to apply

Emphasizes a stronger sense of unwillingness or laziness.

didn't feel like applying

Focuses on a lack of motivation to apply.

didn't make the effort to apply

Highlights the absence of effort in the application process.

didn't take the time to apply

Emphasizes that the person did not dedicate time to applying.

wasn't interested in applying

Indicates a lack of interest as the reason for not applying.

saw no point in applying

Suggests a perceived futility in submitting an application.

deemed it unnecessary to apply

Formal way to say someone thought applying was not needed.

abstain from applying

More formal way of expressing a decision not to apply.

pass up the chance to apply

Suggests an opportunity was available but not pursued.

forgo applying

Similar to 'abstain' but with a connotation of giving up something.

FAQs

What does "bothered to apply" mean?

It means someone did not make the effort or take the time to submit an application, often due to a lack of interest or motivation.

What can I say instead of "bothered to apply"?

You can use alternatives like "didn't feel like applying", "didn't make the effort to apply", or "wasn't interested in applying" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "didn't bother applying"?

Yes, "didn't bother applying" is a grammatically correct and more common variant of "bothered to apply".

What's the difference between "bothered to apply" and "tried to apply"?

"Bothered to apply" implies a lack of effort or interest in submitting an application. In contrast, "tried to apply" suggests an attempt was made, regardless of whether it was successful.