is best left

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is best left" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to suggest that something should not be addressed or should be avoided. Example: "In this situation, the past is best left undiscussed to maintain harmony."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But advice is best left to professionals.

The New Yorker

That task is best left to philosophers.

The New York Times

It is best left to fashion critics.

The New York Times - Arts

Perhaps the cocaine is best left in the coca leaf.

University of California, Berkeley

But in some cases, stonework is best left alone.

The Economist

(The rest is best left to your imagination).

The New York Times - Arts

And frankly, David's wife is best left missing.

The New York Times - Books

That job is best left to the viewers.

The New York Times - Arts

And that white distilled is best left for cleaning.

The Washington Post

But I think that is best left to them.

The Guardian

The job is best left to women, however.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is best left" when suggesting that a task, topic, or action should be avoided or handled by someone more qualified. Ensure the context clearly indicates why avoidance or delegation is the preferred course of action.

Common error

Avoid using "is best left" in simple situations where a more direct instruction would suffice. For example, instead of saying "the details are best left for later", you could simply say "we'll discuss the details later".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is best left" functions as a passive voice construction, typically used to indicate that a particular action, topic, or responsibility should be avoided, postponed, or delegated. It conveys a sense of prudence or necessity in choosing not to engage directly with something. As Ludwig AI indicates, the expression is grammatically sound and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is best left" is a versatile passive construction used to recommend avoidance, delegation, or postponement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. Its prevalence across various sources, particularly news and media, wiki, and science, underscores its widespread applicability. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to provide clear context indicating why the subject should be avoided or delegated. While generally neutral in tone, avoiding overuse in simple situations will maintain clarity and impact. Ultimately, "is best left" serves as a valuable tool for providing nuanced advice and setting boundaries.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is better to avoid

Suggests a stronger degree of avoidance compared to "is best left".

should be omitted

Focuses on removing something entirely rather than leaving it untouched.

is preferable to ignore

Highlights that ignoring something is the favored option.

is advisable to disregard

Emphasizes ignoring something as the most prudent action.

is wiser to bypass

Suggests that navigating around something is the more intelligent approach.

is more prudent to defer

Highlights that postponing or delegating is the safest approach.

is better handled by

Focuses on the advantage of having someone else manage the task.

is more appropriate to delegate

Suggests assigning responsibility to someone else is more suitable.

is recommended to skip

Provides a recommendation to not engage with something.

should be given a miss

An informal suggestion to avoid something.

FAQs

How can I use "is best left" in a sentence?

Use "is best left" to suggest that something should be avoided or handled by someone else. For example, "That task "is best left to professionals"".

What are some alternatives to "is best left"?

Alternatives include phrases like "is better to avoid", "should be omitted", or "is preferable to ignore".

When is it appropriate to use "is best left"?

It's appropriate to use "is best left" when you want to suggest that a topic, task, or action should be avoided, postponed, or delegated due to complexity, sensitivity, or lack of expertise.

What is the difference between "is best left" and "is better left"?

While both suggest avoidance, "is best left" implies a stronger recommendation or necessity for avoidance, while "is better left" suggests a more subjective preference.