Words That Work ... or Don't

You Had Better Read This!

We all know that language is constantly evolving, but sometimes that evolution creates either improper word use or confusion — or both.

I’ve been hearing and reading something that strikes me as wrong, but I had to stop and think — and do a little research — to determine where the problem was.

And as is so often the case, examples explain correct usage better than complicated and sometimes arcane rules.

What's wrong with these statements?

  • The candidates better decide pretty quickly if they're going to get in the race.
  • You better not be late for the meeting.
  • We better go before it starts to rain.

When you are making a recommendation or issuing a warning as these statements do, “had better” is the proper construction:

  • The candidates had better decide pretty quickly if they’re going to get in the race.
  • You had better not be late for the meeting.
  • We had better go before it starts to rain.

In speaking, it’s often easier to use a contraction:

  • We’d better go before it stars to rain.
  • You’d better not be late for the meeting.

Remember it this way: If you are stating that someone should or ought to do something, the proper way to express that it is had better.

Some people think that as long as their message is understood, proper grammar doesn’t matter. Before you take short cuts, consider these wise words by Pulitzer prize-winning syndicated columnist William Raspberry:

“Good English, well spoken and well written, will open more doors than a college degree. Bad English will slam doors you didn’t even know existed.”

Ruthless Editor follows The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law guidelines for word and punctuation usage. Webster's New World College Dictionary serves as a secondary reference.

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