bothered to correct

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bothered to correct" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing whether someone took the effort to make a correction or address an issue. Example: "She didn't bother to correct the mistakes in the report, which led to confusion among the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

No one bothered to correct her posture.

The Guardian - Books

I never bothered to correct him, because I didn't want to sacrifice the dollar tip he always tossed in the jar.

The New York Times

Apparently his name was misspelled on an entry form early in his career and no one bothered to correct the mistake.

The Washington Post

But Ms. Terzano said today that Mr. Gore had not bothered to correct the story because he had more important things to do.

The New York Times

Mrs Chin no longer bothered to correct my errors, sitting there instead with her eyes closed tight, taking the wrong notes like a defeated boxer takes punches.

The Guardian - Books

No editor has bothered to correct James's clumsy way with language, his comma splices and dangling modifiers, his top-of-head misquotes (we have Tony Blair saying "I think people know I'm an honest kinda guy") or his repetitions.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

They don't bother to correct.

The New York Times - Arts

Please don't bother to correct my English.

The New York Times

"Ro Bing Ho," he said again — I didn't bother to correct him.

The New Yorker

"Ro Bing Ho," he said again—I didn't bother to correct him.

The New Yorker

Hotel operators so often address me as "Mrs. Sedaris" that I no longer bother to correct them.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context makes it clear what was not corrected and why this lack of correction is significant.

Common error

Avoid using "bothered to correct" in situations where a neutral or positive tone is desired. This phrase often implies criticism or disappointment, so choose a more neutral alternative like "took the time to correct" if the lack of correction is not a point of contention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bothered to correct" functions as a verb phrase indicating a lack of action or effort towards rectifying an error or inaccuracy. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase carries a negative connotation, implying negligence or indifference.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Books

25%

Vice

12.5%

Less common in

Huffington Post

12.5%

The New Yorker

7.5%

Science

2.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "bothered to correct" is a verb phrase used to express criticism or disappointment about a lack of effort to rectify errors. According to Ludwig AI, it carries a negative connotation and is most frequently found in news and media contexts. While grammatically correct, it should be used judiciously to avoid unintended offense. Consider alternatives such as "took the time to correct" when a neutral tone is more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taken the trouble to correct

Emphasizes the effort or inconvenience involved in making the correction.

made an effort to correct

Highlights the deliberate action of correcting something.

gone to the effort of correcting

Stresses the degree of effort exerted in making the correction.

concerned themselves with correcting

Focuses on the level of care and attention given to the act of correcting.

seen fit to correct

Implies a judgment or decision was made to correct something.

troubled themselves to correct

Highlights the personal inconvenience taken to make the correction.

deemed it necessary to correct

Focuses on the perceived importance of the correction.

undertook to correct

Suggests a formal or official commitment to making the correction.

addressed the correction

Highlights the action of dealing with the correction.

rectified the mistake

Focuses on the outcome of correcting the mistake.

FAQs

How can I use "bothered to correct" in a sentence?

You can use "bothered to correct" to express that someone did not take the effort to fix an error or inaccuracy, often implying criticism. For example, "He never bothered to correct the mistakes in the report, leading to significant misunderstandings."

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

You can use alternatives like "took the trouble to correct", "made an effort to correct", or "taken the time to correct" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "bothered to correct" and "tried to correct"?

"Bothered to correct" implies a lack of effort or willingness to rectify something, while "tried to correct" suggests an attempt was made, regardless of the outcome. The former carries a negative connotation of negligence, while the latter is more neutral.

Is it always negative to say someone "bothered to correct" something?

Yes, the phrase "bothered to correct" typically carries a negative connotation, implying that the person should have corrected something but did not. The degree of negativity depends on the specific context and implications.