bothered to find

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bothered to find" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing whether someone made an effort to search for or discover something. Example: "I was surprised that he never bothered to find out the truth about the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

And he hasn't bothered to find out".

The New York Times

That boy is called Victim 8; no one bothered to find out his name, either.

The New Yorker

Whoever is right, the Russian police never bothered to find out.

The New York Times

Not many of them even bothered to find out much about what it was like.

The New Yorker

The answer: I don't know, and I haven't bothered to find out.

The New York Times

But, of course, nobody bothered to find out the reason for this.

The New Yorker

The mind boggles, but he can't be bothered to find out.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She not only wasn't at the closing, but never bothered to find out how it went.

The New York Times

As far as Sergeant Feyer knew, no one bothered to find out the truth.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, no one on Burnside's staff had bothered to find the ford across the Antietam before the battle.

The New York Times

It turns out that he was imprisoned there before anybody bothered to find out if he had a gun.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bothered to find" to subtly convey a sense of negligence or lack of curiosity on someone's part. It's more impactful than a direct statement of disinterest.

Common error

While "bothered to find" is acceptable, avoid overusing it in formal writing. Opt for more professional alternatives like "made an effort to determine" or "investigated" to maintain a serious tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bothered to find" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating a lack of effort or willingness to search for or discover something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used. It often highlights negligence or indifference.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "bothered to find" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase that conveys a lack of effort or interest in discovering something. As supported by Ludwig AI, its primary function is to express criticism or mild disapproval, predominantly appearing in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's best to use more formal alternatives in academic or highly professional settings. Remember to wield this phrase judiciously to subtly highlight negligence or indifference, and ensure it aligns with the overall tone of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Bothered to seek

A more concise alternative, focusing on the act of seeking.

Could be bothered to uncover

Maintains a similar tone and implication of reluctance, focusing on the act of uncovering information.

Cared enough to search out

Emphasizes the lack of care or concern as the reason for not finding something.

Made the effort to discover

Emphasizes the action of making an effort, in contrast to the original phrase's implication of lacking effort.

Made no attempt to determine

Focuses on the absence of any attempt, rather than specifically the lack of effort.

Took the time to investigate

Highlights the time investment aspect, which the original phrase suggests was not made.

Troubled oneself to ascertain

Presents a more formal and emphatic way of expressing the effort (or lack thereof) to find something out.

Showed interest in learning

Highlights the absence of interest as the primary factor, contrasting with the original phrase's focus on effort.

Deemed it worth discovering

Shifts the focus to the perceived value or importance of finding something, implying it was not considered worthwhile.

Concerned themselves with locating

Indicates a lack of concern, making it a reason to search out.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "bothered to find" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can replace "bothered to find" with phrases like "made an effort to discover", "took the time to investigate", or "endeavored to ascertain" depending on the context.

What does it imply when someone "bothered to find" something?

When someone "bothered to find" something, it suggests they put in minimal effort or were reluctant to search for it. The phrase often implies a lack of interest or importance attributed to the task.

Is "bothered to find" suitable for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "bothered to find" might be too informal for academic writing. Consider more precise and professional alternatives like "researched", "investigated", or "examined" to maintain a formal tone.

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

"Bothered to find" implies a lack of effort or reluctance, whereas "tried to find" suggests an attempt was made, even if unsuccessful. The former conveys a sense of disinterest, while the latter indicates an effort to search.