Worthy Of: Standard Pattern
Worthy Of: Standard Pattern records the directly documented construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced pattern rather than inventing a broader prohibition.
Use “worthy of” for something deserving, suitable for, or characteristic of the following noun phrase.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Context | Use | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| something deserves attention, praise, or another response | worthy of + noun phrase | Use “of” before what the subject deserves. |
| something is suitable for or characteristic of the following reference | worthy of + noun phrase | The same documented construction can express suitability/character. |
| a different sense/construction is intended | check that use separately | Do not convert this attested pattern into a universal rule for every use of “worthy.” |
Quick tests
Decision test
Are you saying that something deserves, is suitable for, or is characteristic of what follows?
If yes: Use “worthy of.”
If no: Check the intended sense rather than assuming every use of “worthy” must take the same complement.
Caveat: This page is bounded to the documented “worthy of” construction and does not invent a prohibition on other independently attested uses.
Examples
The proposal is worthy of careful consideration.
“Of” introduces what the proposal deserves.
Her work is worthy of praise.
The noun after “of” names the response the work deserves.
It was a performance worthy of the final.
The construction can express suitability for the reference that follows.
Further guidance
Construction
Use “worthy of” for something deserving, suitable for, or characteristic of the following noun phrase.
Style Boundary
The adjective “worthy” can also stand without an “of” phrase, so this page records the documented complement rather than claiming that “of” is always required.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- WORTHY — Cambridge English Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press & Assessment · Cambridge dictionary evidence for worthy of as a documented construction meaning deserving, suitable, or characteristic of something.