worthiness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worthiness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the quality of being good enough, deserving, or having merit in various contexts, such as moral, social, or personal evaluations. Example: "Her worthiness for the award was evident through her years of dedicated service to the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Lorenzo Valla (Repastinatio, 253) attacked scholastic dialectic, referring to worthiness of belief and belief-worthy things (credibilia) rather than to probability and probabilia.

SEP

Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 11.07am ET16 07 Obama quotes Fitch as saying that repeated "brinksmanship" in Washington warrants a review of the US credit worthiness.

The Guardian

If this leader of the Opposition wants to talk about telling the truth, if this leader of the Opposition wants to talk about being trustworthy, well we are coming up to the fourth anniversary of his trust worthiness to prime minister Rudd and we are coming up to the first anniversary of his trust worthiness with prime minister Gillard.

The Guardian

As Prof. Darren Sherkat notes "... there should be reflection about a conservative scholar garnering a very large grant from exceptionally conservative foundations to make incendiary arguments about the worthiness of LGBT parents".

The Guardian

The broadcasters have cited the recent European election as a measure of Ukip's popularity and irrefutable evidence of its worthiness for inclusion.

The Guardian - Opinion

On the other, its origins in poetry slams (not to mention her experience as a young playwright) lend it a slightly naff sense of worthiness that the Mercury judges never seem to find as off-putting as the rest of the population.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Nor would I want to see housing associations deprived too rapidly of their homes, which are after all fundamental to their credit-worthiness to their ability to borrow and to build new homes.

The Guardian

So Mr Musk's real bet is on the ultimate man-worthiness of the system.

The Economist

Two common sources of financing, credit-card debt and home-equity credit, have become less useful; months of poor economic conditions have eroded credit-worthiness, while the housing bust has left a quarter of mortgage borrowers with negative equity.

The Economist

On February 27th Moody's, a credit-rating agency, downgraded the city's credit-worthiness to two notches above junk, mostly because Chicago is carrying more than $20 billion in unfunded liabilities for four of its pension funds, and already has a deficit of around $300m in its operating budget.

The Economist

It reused much of the technology that went into Chandrayaan, India's successful 2008 lunar mission, obviating the need for new space-worthiness tests.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When evaluating abstract concepts like "worthiness", provide specific examples or criteria to support your claims. This adds clarity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "worthiness" when simpler words like "value" or "merit" suffice. "Worthiness" carries a slightly heavier connotation, so reserve it for situations where the deserving quality is particularly significant or complex.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "worthiness" is as a noun, typically referring to the quality or state of being worthy. As exemplified in the Ludwig examples, it often appears in contexts related to evaluation, judgment, and justification.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "worthiness" is a noun denoting the state of being worthy, frequently employed to evaluate eligibility and justify decisions. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its proper usage across diverse contexts, especially within news media and scientific discourse. Though grammatically sound, writers should aim for precision; simpler terms like "merit" or "value" might suit less complex scenarios better. As Ludwig's examples show, effective usage involves providing explicit criteria to bolster arguments. "Worthiness" suggests a deserving quality earned through specific qualities or actions, contrasting with the broader "worth", representing inherent value. By following these guidelines, one can effectively incorporate "worthiness" into writing, ensuring both accuracy and nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deservingness

Replaces "worthiness" with a direct synonym focused on deserving something.

merit

Focuses on the quality of being good or deserving praise, similar to "worthiness".

value

Emphasizes the inherent worth or importance of something, akin to a specific aspect of "worthiness".

excellence

Highlights the quality of being outstanding or exceptionally good, related to achieving "worthiness".

appropriateness

Stresses the suitability or fitness of something, implying a specific type of "worthiness".

suitability

Focuses on being right or appropriate for a particular purpose or situation, a specific type of "worthiness".

eligibility

Highlights the state of being qualified for something, often a prerequisite for "worthiness".

quality

Refers to a distinctive attribute or characteristic, often contributing to overall "worthiness".

creditworthiness

Specifies "worthiness" in the context of financial reliability and responsibility.

desert

Implies what someone deserves based on their actions or qualities, a consequence of "worthiness".

FAQs

How can I use "worthiness" in a sentence?

You can use "worthiness" to describe the state of deserving respect, praise, or reward due to one's qualities or actions. For example: "Her dedication proved her "worthiness" of the scholarship".

What are some synonyms for "worthiness"?

Alternatives to "worthiness" include "merit", "value", "deservingness", and "excellence". The best choice depends on the specific context.

How does "worthiness" differ from "worth"?

"Worth" generally refers to the inherent quality or value of something, while "worthiness" implies a deserving quality, often earned through actions or attributes. Essentially, something has worth, and someone demonstrates "worthiness".

Is it more appropriate to use "worthiness" or "worth" in the context of moral character?

In the context of moral character, "worthiness" is generally more fitting. It suggests that someone's actions or virtues make them deserving of respect or admiration. "Worth", in this context, would more broadly describe their inherent value as a person.