[General] For what it’s worth

[Silverobama]

Hi.

My cousin failed his driving test; he tried three times. I said the below to make him feel better:

For what it’s worth, you’ve tried your best.

Is my sentence natural?

 

[GoesStation]

It's okay, but I'm not sure what you were trying to say.

 

[Silverobama]

It's okay, but I'm not sure what you were trying to say.

Hi, GS.

My cousin failed his driving test and he tried three times. He was very sad and wanted to give up. I said to him "For what it's worth, you've tried your best". So, don't be unhappy.

I wonder if the italic sentence is natural and makes more sense to you now.

 

[Tarheel]

Try:

My cousin took the driving test for the third time and failed again. He was feeling down in the dumps. I said, "Don't worry. You'll pass next time."

(Please! Please! Please! When a person does his best the effort is inherent. No try! Do your best or do not.)

(I feel better now.
)

 

[tedmc]

I don't think "for what it is worth" is appropriate as part of a consolation.

 

[GoesStation]

Hi, GS.

My cousin failed his driving test and he tried three times. He was very sad and wanted to give up. I said to him "For what it's worth, you've tried your best". So, don't be unhappy.

I wonder if the italic sentence is natural and makes more sense to you now.

As Ted said, for what it's worth doesn't really work there.

 

[Silverobama]

As Ted said, for what it's worth doesn't really work there.

May I ask for an example of how it is used?

 

[tedmc]

https://fraze.it/n_search.jsp?hardm=1&0&l=0&p=3&q=for+what+it+is+worth

It is used to qualify pieces of information, opinions, observations, etc. which one is not sure of their usefulness or importance.

 

[Phaedrus]

For what it’s worth, you’ve tried your best.

Is my sentence natural?

No, it isn't natural. It's like saying:

? Not that it necessarily matters, but you've tried your best.

I think you mean to say something like this instead:

The important thing is, you've tried your best.

 

[Tarheel]

For what it's worth, you have my sympathy.

For what it's worth, people have told me they liked it before but don't now.

For what it's worth, that's my advice.

For what it's worth, I agree with you.

For what it's worth, that's my opinion.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi.My cousin failed his driving test; he tried three times.

My cousin failed his driving test and he tried three times.

Neither of these is natural. Just say "My cousin [has] failed his driving test three times.

 

[Silverobama]

Neither of these is natural. Just say "My cousin [has] failed his driving test three times.

I know it's wrong to say "thanks" here; I say it along with my reason I didn't mention "Fraze.it".

a) I was wondering how the phrase (For what it's worth) could be used in daily conversation. Fraze.it is a formal source.
b) Rover gave me the link two months ago, I looked up information there from time to time. I've seen many sentences from people's comments. I wonder if they are also natural, too?

 

[Tarheel]

I know it's wrong to say "thanks" here; I say it along with my reason I didn't mention "Fraze.it".

No. It's not wrong. I only object to people doing it in post #1 (when they are thanking people for nothing and probably won't bother to give thanks later).

a) I was wondering how the phrase (For what it's worth) could be used in daily conversation. Fraze.it is a formal source.

Those quotes come from various sources. They are natural enough.

b) Rover gave me the link two months ago, I look up information there from time to time. I've seen many sentences from people's comments. I wonder if they are also natural, too.

I've only looked up one thing, and there were seven or eight quotes.

By the way, you could use my suggestion, which is: Bob failed the driving test for the third time.

 

[emsr2d2]

I've only looked up one thing, and there were seven or eight quotes.

By the way, you could use my suggestion, which is: Bob failed the driving test for the third time.

In BrE at least, that would be more natural as "... failed his driving test ...".

 

[Tarheel]

In BrE at least, that would be more natural as "... failed his driving test ...".

That's good in American English too.