bothered to update

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bothered to update" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing whether someone took the time or effort to make an update or change. Example: "I was surprised that he bothered to update the report after all this time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

General Writing

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Ms. Bailey lived in a sunny two-bedroom apartment on the 15th floor of a co-op on Sutton Place and never bothered to update the 1950s décor.

The New York Times

The ministry blamed poor bookkeeping for most of the cases, saying that the individuals had apparently died or moved away, but that no one had bothered to update the records.

The New York Times

"Defendant harassed plaintiff with robocalls until she had to resort to a lawsuit to make the calls stop, and even then TWC could not be bothered to update the information in its IVR system," Hellerstein wrote.

The Guardian

It seems that after applying the update—I haven't bothered to update yet the little Bluetooth icon disappears from the menu bar.

TechCrunch

The problem, Facebook says, is that a lot of people don't fill this section out or haven't bothered to update their interests in years.

TechCrunch

We all know why this is happening: rights holders there (the UK's version of the RIAA and MPAA) are freaking out because they never bothered to update their business model, and now are seeing their business (standing in between musicians and their fans, "distributing" music) blow up.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Some never bother to update the picture from one edition to the next.

The New York Times

So driving without a seatbelt or not bothering to update antivirus software doesn't count.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And most do not bother to update software for models more than a few years old, partly because of outdated hardware and partly because of the desire to sell you a new phone.

The New York Times - Tech

Why would this dowdy Middle American entity waddle into Midtown in its big old shorts and flip-flops without even bothering to update its ancient Helvetica Light logo, which for anyone who grew up with the company is encrusted with decades of boring, even traumatically parental, associations?

The New York Times

Ten years ago Sequoia's five largest positions were in shares of Berkshire Hathaway, Freddie Mac, Progressive Corp., Hasbro and Fifth Third Bancorp. Had you bought equal amounts of each at the time and held without bothering to update or rebalance the portfolio, you would now be sitting on a 16.6% compound annual return, compared with 16% for the fund.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "bothered to update", ensure the context clearly indicates why updating was expected or necessary. This enhances the impact of the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "bothered to update" in formal or professional documents where a more neutral phrase like "made an effort to update" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bothered to update" functions as a verb phrase in the infinitive form. It typically expresses whether someone made the effort or felt inclined to perform an update. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Tech

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bothered to update" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts, where it highlights a deliberate action of updating something, often with an implication that the update was not necessarily expected or convenient. While versatile, it's important to consider the register; in more formal settings, alternatives like "made an effort to update" may be more appropriate. When using "bothered to update", ensure the context clarifies why the updating action was notable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made an effort to update

Highlights the effort involved in updating something.

took the time to update

Focuses on the time invested in performing the update.

troubled to update

Emphasizes the inconvenience overcome to make the update.

could be bothered to update

Expresses a lack of inclination or willingness to update.

felt inclined to update

Suggests a degree of willingness or desire to update.

concerned oneself with updating

Highlights the act of giving importance to the action of updating.

deemed it necessary to update

Implies a judgment that updating was essential.

saw fit to update

Indicates a decision that updating was appropriate or beneficial.

undertook the task of updating

Focuses on the formal undertaking of the update process.

made it a point to update

Underlines the deliberate nature of the action to update.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says they "bothered to update" something?

It implies that the person took the time and effort to make an update, often suggesting that updating was not something they were particularly keen to do, or that others might not have made the effort.

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

You can use alternatives like "made an effort to update", "took the time to update", or "troubled to update" depending on the context.

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

Yes, "didn't bother updating" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express a lack of effort or inclination to update something.

What's the difference between "bothered to update" and "remembered to update"?

"Bothered to update" implies a degree of reluctance or inconvenience overcome to perform the update. "Remembered to update", on the other hand, simply suggests that someone recalled to make the update, without necessarily implying reluctance.