it better left

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it better left" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form is "it is better left" or "it would be better left." Example: "In this situation, it is better left unsaid."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Is it something to be studied in a lab, or is it better left to the complex parts of our brains where love and poetry reside?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I was afraid I would bleed uncontrollably — I thought I better leave it until I was at the hospital".

The New York Times

"It's better left to expert photo interpreters or analysts to draw any specific conclusions," said Mark E. Brender, a company spokesman.

The New York Times

It takes an awful lot of due diligence to assess a hedge-fund manager; pension funds and endowments may well feel it is better left to an expert.

The Economist

If this was really the rootless, insubstantial sequence that marked the start of an extraordinary political career perhaps it was better left unsaid.

Independent

It was better left to governments, not to development experts.

Huffington Post

This was changed as the writers felt it would be better left as a surprise.

Wikipedia

"It's a job better left to a plainclothes squad," the former investigator said.

The New York Times

It is a window better left closed, which is what Lillian Groag's judicious staging mostly does.

The New York Times - Arts

It might have been better left as a children's fantasy even if the film is visually stunning.

Huffington Post

Vodafone's Doherty sold the enhanced benefits package to senior leadership by making a strong business case for it -- better leave policy translates to fewer women leaving the company.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always include a form of the verb 'to be' (is, was, would be, etc.) before 'better' when using this phrase to ensure grammatical correctness. For example, use "it is better left" instead of "it better left".

Common error

A common mistake is to omit the verb 'to be' when constructing this phrase. Without it, the sentence becomes grammatically incorrect. Always remember to include a form of 'to be' such as 'is', 'was', or 'would be' to maintain proper grammar.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it better left" is grammatically incorrect. It attempts to convey a passive idea but lacks the necessary auxiliary verb. Ludwig AI suggests the correct form is "it is better left" to express that something should be left as is.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it better left" is grammatically incorrect as pointed out by Ludwig AI. The correct form should include a verb "to be", such as "it is better left" or "it would be better left". This corrected version is used to suggest that something is best avoided or not further pursued. While the intended meaning might be understood, using the grammatically correct form enhances clarity and professionalism. Examples from Ludwig show that accurate usage is more prevalent in news articles, scientific contexts, and general discussions. When writing, always remember to include the necessary auxiliary verb to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is better left

Adds the necessary verb 'is' to create a grammatically correct passive construction.

it's better left

Uses the contraction 'it's' (it is) to create a more informal, grammatically sound phrase.

it would be better left

Uses 'would be' for a more conditional or hypothetical tone, while correcting the grammar.

it is best left

Substitutes 'better' with 'best' to suggest the optimal course of action.

it should be left

Replaces 'better' with 'should' to indicate a recommendation or suggestion.

that's better left unsaid

Adds 'unsaid' to emphasize that something is better not spoken, while maintaining grammatical correctness.

it's wiser to leave

Replaces 'better' with 'wiser' to imply a more considered and thoughtful decision to leave something.

it is preferable to leave

Changes the structure to actively suggest leaving something, ensuring grammatical correctness.

it's advisable to leave

Suggests that leaving something is a recommended course of action, while correcting the original grammar.

it's safer to leave

Emphasizes the safety aspect of leaving something, while correcting the grammar.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "it better left"?

The grammatically correct way to express this idea is to say "it is better left" or "it would be better left". The inclusion of the verb "is" or "would be" ensures the sentence follows standard English grammar rules.

Is "it better left unsaid" a correct phrase?

Yes, "it is better left unsaid" is a correct and commonly used phrase. It means that something is best not spoken about or revealed.

Can I use "it better left" in informal conversation?

While some might understand the intended meaning, "it is better left" is not grammatically correct and is best avoided in both formal and informal contexts. Stick to grammatically sound alternatives like "it is better left" or "it's better left".

What does "it's better to leave" mean?

"It's better to leave" means that in a particular situation, the best course of action is to depart or abandon something. It implies that staying or continuing would be less desirable or beneficial. For example, "it's better to leave the party early than to stay until everyone is tired".