The correct expression is “it is worth it” or its contraction, “it’s worth it.” The phrase “it worth it” is incorrect in standard English because it leaves out the linking verb is. Here, worth functions as an adjective describing value, usefulness, or whether something justifies its cost, time, effort, or difficulty.
For example:
- ✅ It is worth it.
- ✅ It’s worth it.
- ❌ It worth it.
The same pattern works with different tenses:
- It is worth it.
- It was worth it.
- It will be worth it.
- It would be worth it.
Quick Answer
“It is worth it” is correct, while “it worth it” is incorrect in standard English. The word worth works as an adjective in this expression, so it needs a form of the verb be, such as is, was, will be, or would be. You can also use the natural contraction “it’s worth it.” In casual conversation, “Worth it!” can stand alone as an informal sentence fragment, but “it worth it” is not a standard alternative.
What Is the Difference Between “It Worth It” and “It Is Worth It”?
The difference is grammatical rather than one of meaning.
“It is worth it” contains the required verb is:
It + is + worth it.
In this structure:
- It is the subject.
- is is the linking verb.
- worth it is the adjective phrase describing the value of something.
“It worth it” removes is, leaving the sentence without its required finite verb.
Compare:
The course is useful.
The course is worth it.
You would not normally say:
The course useful.
The same basic problem occurs with:
❌ It worth it.
✅ It is worth it.
The phrase worth it means that the result, benefit, enjoyment, or value justifies the money, time, effort, inconvenience, or difficulty involved.
Why It Matters
This is a small grammar difference, but it matters whenever you want your English to be complete and standard.
You may encounter the incorrect form in searches, messages, comments, learner writing, or quick typing. Because the intended meaning is usually obvious, readers may understand “it worth it.” Understanding the sentence does not make the construction grammatically standard, however.
The distinction becomes especially important in:
- School assignments
- Exams
- Business emails
- Professional documents
- Formal messages
- Applications
- Academic writing
- Edited website content
In casual conversation, English speakers often shorten expressions. For example, someone might answer:
“Worth it!”
That is a conversational fragment with the rest of the sentence understood from context. It is different from writing:
❌ It worth it.
The first is an intentional informal shortening; the second is an incomplete attempt at the full sentence.
The Core Rule
Use a form of “be” before “worth” when “worth” describes value or usefulness.
Common patterns include:
- It is worth it.
- It was worth it.
- It will be worth it.
- It would be worth it.
- They are worth it.
- They were worth it.
- Is it worth it?
- Was it worth it?
The easiest memory rule is:
be + worth
Not:
it + worth
So remember:
It is worth it. ✅
It worth it. ❌
How to Use “It Is Worth It”
Present Situations
Use it is worth it when you are talking about something that currently provides enough value to justify its cost, time, effort, or difficulty.
Examples:
The subscription is expensive, but it is worth it.
If you use the software every day, it is worth it.
The extra time is worth it.
The contraction it’s worth it is also completely standard:
It’s worth it.
It’s worth the extra money.
It’s worth trying.
Past Situations
Change is to was when you are evaluating something that happened in the past.
The trip was exhausting, but it was worth it.
The long wait was worth it.
The extra studying was worth it.
The structure remains the same:
It + was + worth it
Not:
❌ It worth it yesterday.
Future Situations
For future situations, use will be:
It will be worth it.
The extra training will be worth it.
The investment will be worth it if the project succeeds.
You can also use would be when discussing a possible or hypothetical situation:
It would be worth it if we could finish by Friday.
Would it be worth it to upgrade now?
Questions
The natural question is:
Is it worth it?
Not:
❌ Does it worth it?
Because worth is not functioning as the main verb in this construction, does is not used to form this question.
Other correct questions include:
Was it worth it?
Will it be worth it?
Would it be worth it?
Is the extra cost worth it?
Is it worth trying?
“Worth” + Noun
You can use worth before a noun or noun phrase when talking about value.
The phone is worth the money.
The course is worth the price.
The experience was worth the effort.
The repair was worth the cost.
“Worth” + -ing Form
Another common structure is worth + -ing.
The book is worth reading.
The museum is worth visiting.
This movie is worth watching.
The idea is worth considering.
This is an important pattern because learners sometimes incorrectly use to + verb after worth.
❌ It is worth to read.
✅ It is worth reading.
Cambridge’s grammar guidance specifically identifies to be worth doing something as a common English construction.
Correct Examples
Here are natural examples from different situations.
- Conversation:
“The restaurant is a little expensive, but it is worth it.” - Text message:
“The tickets cost more than I expected, but they’re worth it.” - Workplace:
“The additional training will be worth it for the team.” - Email:
“I believe the extra investment is worth it.” - School:
“The extra practice was worth it because I understood the lesson better.” - Academic writing:
“The additional research was worth the time required to complete it.” - Travel:
“The drive was long, but the destination was worth it.” - Shopping:
“The cheaper model works well, so the premium version may not be worth it.” - Social media:
“Three hours in line, but honestly, it was worth it!” - Everyday conversation:
“Is it worth it to buy the extended warranty?” - Decision-making:
“Would it be worth it to wait another month?” - Future planning:
“The extra preparation will be worth it when the presentation goes smoothly.”
See Also: Anual or Annual Differences: Which Spelling Is Correct?
Incorrect vs. Correct
| ❌ Incorrect | ✅ Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| It worth it. | It is worth it. | The linking verb is is required. |
| It worth the money. | It is worth the money. | Worth needs the appropriate form of be here. |
| It worth trying. | It is worth trying. | The sentence needs a finite verb. |
| Does it worth it? | Is it worth it? | Worth is not used as the main verb in this construction. |
| Did it worth it? | Was it worth it? | Past questions use was with this adjective structure. |
| It will worth it. | It will be worth it. | After will, use be before worth. |
| It would worth it. | It would be worth it. | Would is followed by be, not directly by worth. |
| It worth reading. | It is worth reading. | The linking verb is missing. |
| It was worth to go. | It was worth going. | Worth is normally followed by an -ing form in this pattern. |
| Does the trip worth it? | Is the trip worth it? | Use is because worth is functioning as an adjective. |
| The effort worth it. | The effort is worth it. | The sentence needs a linking verb. |
Why People Make This Mistake
The error is easy to understand because worth can look like an ordinary action word.
For example, learners see:
“The trip is worth it.”
They may focus on worth and assume that it behaves like a verb such as help, cost, or benefit. But in this construction, worth is an adjective. The verb is is.
Compare:
The trip is worth it.
with:
The trip costs a lot.
In the first sentence, is carries the verb function. In the second, costs is the main verb.
Phonetic Similarity
When people speak quickly, small words such as is can be less prominent than the important words around them. A learner who mainly notices the sounds it … worth it may mentally reproduce the phrase without the linking verb.
Spelling and Typing
Short expressions are especially vulnerable to missing words during fast typing. Because “it worth it” is understandable, a writer may not notice the missing is.
Overgeneralization
Learners often learn that English questions can use do, does, and did:
Does it work?
Does it help?
Does it matter?
They may then incorrectly apply the same pattern to worth:
❌ Does it worth it?
But the correct structure is:
✅ Is it worth it?
Autocomplete and Spellcheck
Spellcheck tools can identify many spelling errors, but grammar tools do not always explain every structural problem. A sentence can contain familiar English words and still have an incorrect grammatical relationship between them.
Translation Interference
Learners may also transfer sentence patterns from another language into English. Some languages handle present-tense linking structures differently, so a direct translation can encourage the omission of is.
See Also: Inter vs Intra: What Is the Difference?
Common Mistakes Checklist
Forgetting “is”
Mistake:
❌ It worth it.
Why it happens: The writer remembers the expression worth it but leaves out the linking verb.
Avoid it: Check for is, was, will be, or another suitable verb form.
Using “does”
Mistake:
❌ Does it worth it?
Why it happens: Learners know that does forms many present-tense questions.
Avoid it: Use Is it worth it?
Using “did”
Mistake:
❌ Did it worth it?
Why it happens: The learner correctly recognizes the past but chooses the wrong question structure.
Avoid it: Say Was it worth it?
Forgetting “be” after “will”
Mistake:
❌ It will worth it.
Avoid it: Use:
It will be worth it.
Using “to” after “worth”
Mistake:
❌ It is worth to buy.
Avoid it: Use:
It is worth buying.
Confusing a conversational fragment with a complete sentence
Casual:
Worth it!
Complete:
It was worth it.
Both can be appropriate in different contexts, but they do not have the same grammatical structure.
It Worth It or It Is Worth It in Real English
“It is worth it”
This is the complete standard form. It works in conversation, professional writing, academic writing, emails, and other contexts where a full sentence is appropriate. The contraction “it’s worth it” is equally standard, although the full form can be useful when you want a more deliberate or formal tone.
“It’s worth it”
This is extremely natural everyday English. It’s is the contraction of it is, so nothing grammatically changes. It is appropriate in ordinary conversation, messages, emails, and many types of professional writing. There is no grammar problem with the contraction itself.
“Worth it!”
This is a natural informal sentence fragment when the missing subject and verb are obvious from context.
For example:
“Was the three-hour drive worth it?”
“Worth it!”
The speaker means something like “It was worth it.” This shortened response is conversational and does not make “it worth it” acceptable as a complete sentence.
“It worth it”
This is not a natural standard-English alternative to “it is worth it.” The intended meaning is normally easy to understand, but the sentence is missing its linking verb.
The standard correction is:
❌ It worth it.
✅ It is worth it.
See Also: Ballon or Balloon Differences: Which Spelling Is Correct?
American vs. British English
There is no meaningful American-versus-British grammar difference in the basic distinction between “it is worth it” and “it worth it.”
Both varieties use:
It is worth it.
It’s worth it.
Was it worth it?
Is it worth trying?
The expression worth it itself is standard English. The difference is not a regional spelling or grammar preference.
Formal vs. Informal Usage
The grammatical form it is worth it is suitable across registers.
In everyday conversation, the contraction is very common:
It’s worth it.
In more formal writing, you may choose the full form:
It is worth the additional investment.
But this is a style choice, not a rule saying that it’s is grammatically wrong.
A standalone “Worth it!” is much more conversational because it is a sentence fragment.
For example:
Formal: The additional expense is worth it because the equipment will last longer.
Conversational: It’s worth it.
Very casual: Worth it!
Comparison Table
| Feature | It is worth it | It worth it |
|---|---|---|
| Standard English | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Complete sentence | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Contains a linking verb | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Uses “worth” correctly | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Suitable for formal writing | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Suitable for everyday conversation | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Can be contracted | Yes: “It’s worth it” | No |
| Meaning | Value justifies cost, effort, time, etc. | Intended meaning is usually clear, but grammar is incomplete |
Related Expressions You Should Know
Understanding related structures makes the rule easier to apply.
It Is Worth the Money
The laptop is worth the money.
This means its quality or benefits justify its price.
It Is Worth the Effort
The extra preparation is worth the effort.
The result justifies the work required.
It Is Worth Trying
The new method is worth trying.
The potential benefit makes the attempt worthwhile.
It Is Worth Watching
The documentary is worth watching.
The documentary provides enough value or interest to justify spending time on it.
It Is Worthwhile
Worthwhile is a related adjective meaning useful, important, or valuable enough to justify the time, effort, or money involved. It is not simply a replacement for worth it in every sentence.
Compare:
The trip was worth it.
The trip was worthwhile.
Both can communicate that the trip had sufficient value, but their sentence structures differ.
Real-Life Situations
In an Interview
Interviewer: “Was the certification worth the time you spent studying?”
Candidate: “Yes. It was worth it because I learned skills that I now use every day.”
In a Meeting
Manager: “Do you think the additional software is worth the cost?”
Employee: “Yes, I think it is worth the investment because it should reduce the amount of manual work.”
In an Email
“After reviewing the options, I believe the additional expense is worth it.”
This is a complete and professional construction.
In a Text Message
“The concert tickets were expensive, but they were worth it!”
The contraction and exclamation mark make the sentence conversational without making it grammatically incorrect.
In an Exam
If you need to choose between:
❌ It worth it.
and:
✅ It is worth it.
Choose it is worth it.
If the question asks for a past situation, use:
It was worth it.
The Easiest Way to Remember the Rule
Think of worth like an adjective in this construction.
Compare:
It is useful.
It is important.
It is expensive.
It is worth it.
You need the linking verb is in all four sentences.
Now change the tense:
It was useful.
It was important.
It was expensive.
It was worth it.
The same pattern remains.
A simple memory formula is:
Subject + be + worth
Examples:
It + is + worth it.
It + was + worth it.
It + will be + worth it.
It + would be + worth it.
Practice Quiz
Choose the correct option in each sentence.
- ___ worth it to buy the extended warranty.
a) It
b) It is - ___ the extra cost worth it?
a) Is
b) Does - The long journey ___ worth it.
a) was
b) worth - It will ___ worth it in the long run.
a) be
b) — - The book is worth ___.
a) reading
b) to read - ___ it worth the effort?
a) Is
b) Does - The additional training would ___ worth it.
a) be
b) — - The expensive meal was ___ it.
a) worth
b) worthed
Answers:
- b — It is
- a — Is
- a — was
- a — be
- a — reading
- a — Is
- a — be
- a — worth
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “it worth it” grammatically correct?
No. “It worth it” is not a standard complete English sentence because the linking verb is missing. The correct form is “It is worth it” or the contraction “It’s worth it.”
What is the correct phrase: “it worth it” or “it is worth it”?
The correct phrase is “it is worth it.” You can also use “it’s worth it” in contexts where a contraction is appropriate.
Can I say “it’s worth it”?
Yes. “It’s worth it” is the contraction of “it is worth it.” It is grammatically correct and very common in everyday English.
Is “does it worth it?” correct?
No. The standard question is “Is it worth it?” In this construction, worth functions as an adjective, so the question uses the linking verb is, not does.
Is “did it worth it?” correct?
No. For a past evaluation, say “Was it worth it?” For example: “Was the trip worth it?”
Can I say “will it worth it”?
No. Say “Will it be worth it?” The modal will is followed by the base form be, and worth follows be.
Can I say “it is worth to buy”?
Usually no. The standard construction is “It is worth buying.” The pattern worth + -ing is commonly used when describing an activity that deserves the time or effort.
Is “worth it” an adjective?
In “It is worth it,” worth functions as an adjective describing value or usefulness, while it completes the expression. Dictionaries also recognize other uses of worth, but this adjective use explains why the sentence needs a form of be.
Can “worth it” be used by itself?
Yes, in informal conversation. For example, someone may ask, “Was the trip worth it?” and you can reply, “Worth it!” This is a conversational fragment in which the rest of the sentence is understood from context.
Is “it worth it” ever acceptable in formal English?
No, not as the standard complete sentence intended to mean that something justifies its cost, time, or effort. Use “it is worth it” or “it’s worth it.”
What is the difference between “worth it” and “worthwhile”?
Both can describe something that provides enough value to justify the time, effort, or money involved. Worth it commonly evaluates a particular cost or sacrifice, while worthwhile is an adjective that can describe something as useful, important, or valuable.
Quick Summary
“It is worth it” is the correct standard expression, while “it worth it” is grammatically incomplete because it leaves out the linking verb is. The same pattern works with other forms of be, such as “it was worth it,” “it will be worth it,” and “it would be worth it.” For questions, use “Is it worth it?”, not “Does it worth it?” When worth is followed by an activity, use an -ing form: “It is worth trying.” The contraction “it’s worth it” is also correct. In casual conversation, “Worth it!” can work as an informal fragment, but “it worth it” is not a standard alternative.
