it wasn't worthwhile

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it wasn't worthwhile" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something did not provide enough value or benefit to justify the time, effort, or resources spent on it. Example: "After spending hours on the project, I realized it wasn't worthwhile, as the results were disappointing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Haibari said as of last year the store now closes from January to May because its owners discovered, after four years of business, it wasn't worthwhile to stay open during those months.

BBC

"We're not saying that it wasn't worthwhile to create these programs.

The New York Times

While this brought about 400 high-paying jobs to the state, Enrich argues that it wasn't worthwhile over the long term.

The New York Times - Magazine

We felt it wasn't worthwhile pushing it because he couldn't train.

BBC

"It's a big outlay in cost to travel to a tournament that doesn't really constitute a tournament and it was clear it wasn't worthwhile," head coach Adam Farish told BBC Guernsey.

BBC

There was a sense it wasn't worthwhile.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The available methods of road transport were so costly and inefficient that, unless there were special considerations such as military movements, it was not worthwhile to maintain roads for other than local traffic.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The part of Nightcrawler was so minimal, however, that the studio felt it was not worthwhile to go through the long and costly makeup process, and the character was cut.

Wikipedia

The baseline showed that 90% of those who make the decisions about vaccination within Lasbela families thought it was worthwhile, 8% did not know whether it was worthwhile or not and only 2% thought it was not worthwhile.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

It can be argued that, those who "often" might have estimated that it was not worthwhile to pay more just to see her/him every time because next time they will most probably meet the same one.

BMC Health Services Research

This mutually reinforcing cycle of factors was summarised by Farai, who expressed his disappointment that it was not worthwhile for him to attend: "My heart wants to go but the support groups are far away.

Children and Youth Services Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it wasn't worthwhile", ensure the context clearly establishes what "it" refers to. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures the sentence is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "it wasn't worthwhile" without specifying the criteria for worth. Clarify why something wasn't worthwhile—was it time, money, effort, or another factor? This provides a more complete and useful assessment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it wasn't worthwhile" functions as an evaluative statement, expressing a judgment that something lacked sufficient value or benefit. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it wasn't worthwhile" serves as an assessment that something lacked sufficient value, and its usability is confirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, this expression effectively communicates disappointment or regret regarding a past endeavor. For enhanced clarity, ensure the context explicitly defines what "it" refers to and the specific criteria used for evaluating its worth. Related phrases like "it wasn't worth it" offer more succinct alternatives, while "it didn't justify the means" emphasizes the disproportion between actions and results.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it wasn't worth it

A more concise and common way to express that the benefits didn't justify the costs or effort.

it wasn't worth the effort

Focuses on the expenditure of effort without yielding satisfactory results.

it didn't pay off

Indicates that the expected return or reward was not realized.

it didn't justify the means

Highlights that the outcome was not significant enough to warrant the actions taken.

it yielded no benefit

Specifically points out the absence of advantages or gains.

the juice wasn't worth the squeeze

An idiomatic expression indicating that the return wasn't worth the effort invested.

it was a fruitless endeavor

Highlights that the undertaking was unsuccessful and without positive outcome.

it proved unproductive

Emphasizes the lack of positive results or outcomes.

it failed to deliver

Stresses the lack of promised or anticipated results.

it was all for naught

Suggests that all efforts were wasted and achieved nothing.

FAQs

What does "it wasn't worthwhile" mean?

The phrase "it wasn't worthwhile" means that something didn't provide enough value or benefit to justify the time, effort, or resources that were spent on it. It indicates that the outcome wasn't worth the investment.

What can I say instead of "it wasn't worthwhile"?

You can use alternatives like "it wasn't worth the effort", "it wasn't worth it", or "it didn't justify the means" depending on the context.

Is "it wasn't worthwhile" formal or informal?

The phrase "it wasn't worthwhile" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The appropriateness depends more on the surrounding language and the overall context of the communication.

How to use "it wasn't worthwhile" in a sentence?

You can use "it wasn't worthwhile" in a sentence to express that an activity, investment, or effort didn't yield the desired or expected results. For example, "After hours of research, I realized "it wasn't worth it" pursuing that particular avenue."