Grammar Time: Worth vs. Worth It

 So “Worth” is a weird word. People using it wrong on the internet a lot lately. Really in common every day speech, 9 times out of 10, you’d say “worth it”... like,

That isn’t worth it.

Or,

It is worth it to exercise regularly.

 

-=-=-=-=-=-

The only time time you use “worth” without “it” ... is when it is followed by an -ing word... or another specific noun.

Example: It isn’t worth worrying about.

Example: It isn’t worth poodoo.    (Star Wars reference). 

-=-=-=-=--=-

 

A random website guy said it this way:

 

Worth acts as a Preposition. That's why it's normally followed by a Noun, a Pronoun or a Gerund (my note: a gerund is an -ing word, which turns it into a noun).

Ex.

It's worth a try.

It's worth it.

It's worth trying.

 

-=-=-=-=--=-

The dictionary says it can be a noun or preposition 99% of the time.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worth

Noun example: A dollar’s worth of gas.

Noun example: ...trying to teach human worth.

 

Preposition example: Well worth the effort.

-=-=-=-=--=-