worth of the

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worth of the" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct expression is "worth" followed by a noun or a phrase that indicates value. Example: "The worth of the painting was appraised at a million dollars."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The worth of the 400 disputed works?

The New York Times - Arts

Shaming is an assault on the worth of the individual.

The New York Times

He sold roughly eight billion dollars' worth of the C.D.s.

The New Yorker

The worth of the FA Cup remains a perennial debate.

Independent

Ms. Hockersmith ordered $24,215 worth of the wallpaper.

The New York Times - Arts

We get through £60m worth of the stuff every year.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He estimated the worth of the land at $100 million.

The New York Times

America's income inequality is staggering: The net worth of the wealthiest 1 percent of households is equal to the net worth of the poorest 90 percent.

The New York Times

The real net worth of the "bottom" 90 percent has dropped by one-fourth.

The New York Times

"The average net worth of the first 120 customers is over $1 billion," he says.

The Economist

Nasa has released a stunning timelapse video that shows a year's worth of the Sun's activity.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "worth" directly followed by a noun or phrase indicating value to achieve grammatical correctness. For example: "the worth of the painting", can be rephrased as "the painting's worth".

Common error

A frequent mistake is using "worth of the" when "value of the" is more appropriate. "Value" emphasizes the monetary or material assessment, while "worth of the" is generally considered incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worth of the" functions as a determiner phrase, typically preceding a noun. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. The examples in Ludwig highlight its frequent misuse in place of more appropriate alternatives like "value of the."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "worth of the" appears frequently in various contexts, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Its intended function is to assess or express value, but its misuse undermines effective communication. Given the grammatical issues, substituting it with phrases like "value of the", focusing on monetary aspects, or restructuring sentences to correctly use "worth" is recommended for clear and formal communication. It is crucial to use appropriate and professional alternatives to ensure grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

value of the

Focuses on the monetary or material assessment instead of general worth.

importance of the

Emphasizes significance or consequence rather than inherent value.

significance of the

Highlights the noteworthiness or impact, diverging slightly from pure worth.

merit of the

Refers to the quality of being good or deserving, rather than inherent value.

benefit of the

Highlights the advantages or positive outcomes, differing from the intrinsic worth.

usefulness of the

Stresses practical application or serviceability over inherent worth.

advantage of the

Indicates a favorable position or gain, diverging from pure value.

utility of the

Focuses on the state of being useful or beneficial, rather than the inherent value.

price of the

Concentrates on the monetary cost rather than overall assessment.

cost of the

Refers to the amount that must be paid or given up in order to get something.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct way to express the idea behind "worth of the"?

The most direct and grammatically sound alternative is to use "value of the" which emphasizes monetary or material assessment. You can also rephrase by using the structure '[item]'s worth'.

How does the meaning of "worth of the" differ from "importance of the"?

"Worth of the" generally refers to the inherent quality or merit, while "importance of the" indicates the significance or consequence. Although they can overlap, the focus is different.

Is "worth of the" ever considered correct in formal writing?

No, "worth of the" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing. It's better to use alternatives such as "value of the" or rephrase the sentence to use "worth" correctly.

When should I use "value of the" instead of "worth of the"?

Use "value of the" when you are specifically referring to the monetary or material assessment of something. For instance, "the value of the property" is preferable to "the worth of the property" when discussing its market price.