English language learners often get “worth” and “worthy” confused when making a sentence.
It is worth it and it is worthy do not mean the same thing, but they have similar meanings as they come from the same word family.
It is Worth it
It is worth it means that you paid an acceptable price to obtain something. This is usually in the form of monetary value, but it could also mean your time, energy, or effort to do something.
It means that you are willing to do something for it. It may take some work, but the outcome is enjoyable or useful.
For example, maybe you want to go on a city tour, and it costs five euros to climb the tower. In the reviews, somebody says that “it is worth it” or “it is worth the price.”
Meaning: The experience is of reasonable value for the price you have to pay. You should give it a try!
It is Not Worth it
This means that the effort, skill, or money you would have to put in to obtain something is not equal to or acceptable for the outcome.
What you gain is of little value compared to the effort you have to put in.
For example, you could say, “doing the staff officers’ duties for minimum-wage work is not worth it.
Other Sentence Examples
Examples of sentences with “it is worth it” or “it is not worth it.”
- The car was worth the high price tag.
- All the studying was worth it in the end as Mary passed her exam.
- The crown is worth one hundred thousand pounds.
- The video game was not worth fighting over.
- The problem isn’t worth discussing.
- The dress is not worth the price.
- Your dreadful behaviour is not worth my time.
- The film is worth watching.
- I realised that baking the cake was worth it when I got to take a bite!
Question: Is it worth it?
Is it worth it? is a question that means “is this an acceptable price to pay?” Is the result good enough after putting in all that time, hard work or money?
It is used when someone is considering doing something and wants to know if it is a good idea. The answer will depend on the person’s opinion.
For example, maybe you want to go on a city tour, and it costs five euros to climb the tower. You ask other climbers “is it worth it?” In other words, “is the price acceptable for the experience?”
If someone asks how much something is worth, on the other hand, they are usually asking for the price or value. It is an informal way to ask about the cost.
For example, “how much is that lamp worth” means “what price did you pay for the lamp?”
Examples of sentences with “is it worth it?”
- Is it worth it to go on a city tour if it costs five euros to climb the tower?
- Is it worth studying for hours if you don’t like the course?
- Is it worth spending one hundred thousand pounds on a crown?
- Is it worth fighting over a video game?
- Is it worth discussing the problem?
- Is it worth paying the price for the dress?
- Is it worth my time to listen to your dreadful behaviour?
- What is the car worth? (=how much is the car?)
- What is a designer handbag worth? (=how much is the handbag?)
- What is the crown worth? (=how much is the crown?)
It is Worthy
“Worthy” means that something is acceptable and good enough to earn the honor of something.
It is usually related to something more abstract like respect, honor, attention, love, and praise.
“Worthy” usually describes a person or something that is deserving of a reward.
For example, you might say that “the kind princess is worthy of a loving husband.”
It is Not Worthy
It is not worth it means that something is not qualified for or dignified enough. It is not good enough.
For example, we could say, “she is not worthy of the senior position at ABC company.”
Other Sentence Examples
Examples of sentences with it is worthy or it is not worthy.
- Mary is worthy of an A grade for her outstanding English essay.
- The knight was worthy of recognition after the heroic battle.
- You are not worthy of my love.
- The child’s work was worthy of praise.
- The soldier died for a worthy cause.
- The cheating wife is not worthy of my respect.
“Is it worth it” or “does it worth it?”
It is correct to say, “is it worth it?” It is incorrect to say, “does it worth it?”
Is it correct to say, “is it worth?”
No, it is incorrect to say, “is it worth?” We must follow with another word, like “it” or “ten dollars,” for example. It is correct to say, “is it worth it?”
Idioms with “Worth.”
For what it’s worth
The idiom for what it’s worth is used when you are giving someone your opinion on something, even though you know it might not be useful or helpful.
- “For what it’s worth, I think you should study more.”
- “For what it’s worth, I don’t think that dress looks good on you.”
You may also be interested in: 15 Best Online English Courses Free & Paid (2022)
In Conclusion
There are certain instances where we use it is worth it and it is worthy that may not always be so clear-cut.
As you can see from the examples, we usually use “worth it” when we are talking about using our resources to obtain something. “Worthy” is something that deserves regard, attention or respect.
Any questions about your own sentence with “it is worth it” or “it is worthy”? Let me know in the comments section below!
Useful Links
- Hardwork or Hard Work? Hardworking or Hard-working?
- Thier, Their, There, Theyre: Simple English Correction
- Research or Researches: Which is Correct? Simple English Explanations
- Best or Bests? Which is The Correct Way to Sign an Email?
- What Kind of Vs What Kinds of? Which is Correct?
- Chris’s, Chris’ or Chrises? Which is correct?
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and founder of TPR Teaching, crafting inspiring pieces that promote the importance of developing new skills. For 7 years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.