Beter vs. Better — Which is Correct Spelling?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 21, 2024
"Beter" is incorrect. The correct spelling is "Better," denoting a superior or improved condition or quality.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Beter or Better
How to spell Better?
Beter
Incorrect Spelling
Better
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Use mnemonic: "The better the letter, the more t's it gets."
The word "better" has two t's, just like "butter."
Think of "better" as "best" with an extra "er."
Remember that "good, better, best" all have two consonants in the middle.
Relate "better" to "letter," which also has two t's.
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How Do You Spell Better Correctly?
Incorrect: She sings beter than she dances.
Correct: She sings better than she dances.
Incorrect: He performs beter under pressure.
Correct: He performs better under pressure.
Incorrect: The weather today is beter than it was last week.
Correct: The weather today is better than it was last week.
Incorrect: I feel beter than I did yesterday.
Correct: I feel better than I did yesterday.
Incorrect: This option is much beter for our budget.
Correct: This option is much better for our budget.
Better Definitions
To improve on or surpass.
She managed to better her previous record.
More desirable, satisfactory, or effective
The new facilities were far better
I'm better at doing sums than Alice
We're hoping for better weather tomorrow
Partly or fully recovered from illness, injury, or mental stress
His leg was getting better
More excellently or effectively
Instruments are generally better made these days
Jonathon could do better if he tried
Sound travels better in water than in air
The better one; that which is better
You've a right to expect better than that
The Natural History Museum book is by far the better of the two
A change for the better
One's superiors in social class or ability
Educating the young to respect their elders and betters
Variant spelling of bettor
Improve on or surpass (an existing or previous level or achievement)
Bettering his previous time by ten minutes
His account can hardly be bettered
Greater in excellence or higher in quality
Which of the twins is the better skater?.
More useful, suitable, or desirable
Found a better way to go.
A suit with a better fit than that one.
More highly skilled or adept
I am better at math than English.
Greater or larger
Argued for the better part of an hour.
More advantageous or favorable; improved
A better chance of success.
Healthier, more fit, or in less discomfort than before
The patient is better today.
In a satisfactory condition; right or proper
All is well.
Not ailing, infirm, or diseased; healthy.
Cured or healed, as a wound.
Of or characterized by the maintenance of good health practices. Often used in combination
A well-baby clinic.
A well-child visit to the doctor.
Advisable; prudent
It would be well not to ask.
Fortunate; good
It is well that you stayed.
Being positive or desirable in nature; not bad or poor
A good experience.
Good news from the hospital.
Having the qualities that are desirable or distinguishing in a particular thing
A good exterior paint.
A good joke.
Serving the desired purpose or end; suitable
Is this a good dress for the party?.
Not spoiled or ruined
The milk is still good.
In excellent condition; sound
A good tooth.
Superior to the average; satisfactory
A good student.
Used formerly to refer to the US Government grade of meat higher than standard and lower than choice.
Of high quality
Good books.
Discriminating
Good taste.
Of moral excellence; upright
A good person.
Benevolent; kind
A good soul.
A good heart.
Loyal; staunch
A good Republican.
Well-behaved; obedient
A good child.
Socially correct; proper
Good manners.
Worthy of respect; honorable
Ruined the family's good name.
Attractive; handsome
Good looks.
Beneficial to health; salutary
A good night's rest.
Competent; skilled
A good machinist.
Complete; thorough
A good workout.
Reliable; sure
A good investment.
Valid or true
A good reason.
Genuine; real
A good dollar bill.
In effect; operative
A warranty good for two years.
A driver's license that is still good.
Ready or able for a specified or assumed activity
I'm good for another round of golf.
Able to pay or contribute
Is she good for the money that you lent her?.
Able to elicit a specified reaction
He is always good for a laugh.
Ample; substantial
A good income.
Bountiful
A good table.
Full
It is a good mile from here.
Pleasant; enjoyable
Had a good time at the party.
Propitious; favorable
Good weather.
A good omen.
Landing within bounds or within a particular area of a court and therefore in play
The first serve was wide, but the second was good.
Passing between the uprights of the goal and therefore scoring, as a field goal in football.
Used to form exclamatory phrases expressing surprise or dismay
Good heavens! Good grief!.
In a more excellent way
He sings better than his father.
To a greater extent or degree
Better suited to the job.
Likes it better without sauce.
To greater advantage; preferably
A deed better left undone. See Usage Notes at best, have, rather.
More
It took me better than a year to recover.
In a good or proper manner
Behaved well.
Skillfully or proficiently
Dances well.
Satisfactorily or sufficiently
Slept well.
Successfully or effectively
Gets along well with people.
In a comfortable or affluent manner
Lived well.
In a manner affording benefit or gain; advantageously
Married well.
With reason or propriety; reasonably
Can't very well say no.
In all likelihood; indeed
You may well need your umbrella.
In a prudent or sensible manner
You would do well to say nothing more.
In a close or familiar manner
Knew them well.
In a favorable or approving manner
Spoke well of them.
Thoroughly; completely
Well cooked.
Cooked well.
Perfectly; clearly
I well understand your intentions.
To a suitable or appropriate degree
This product will answer your needs equally well.
To a considerable extent or degree
Well over the estimate.
With care or attention
Listened well.
Entirely; fully
Well worth seeing.
Well.
One that is greater in excellence or higher in quality.
Often betters A superior, as in standing, competence, or intelligence
To learn from one's betters.
Variant of bettor.
One that bets or places a bet.
Something that is good.
A good, valuable, or useful part or aspect.
Welfare; benefit
For the common good.
Goodness; virtue
There is much good to be found in people.
A product that is bought and sold
Frozen goods.
Goods Portable personal property.
(used with a sing. or pl. verb) Fabric; material.
Goods(Slang) Incriminating information or evidence
Tried to get the goods on the crook.
To make better; improve
Trying to better conditions in the prison.
Bettered myself by changing jobs.
To surpass or exceed
Practiced so he could better his rival.
To become better
Conditions bettered with time.
Used to introduce a remark, resume a narrative, or fill a pause during conversation.
Used to express surprise.
Comparative of good
Comparative of well
Greater in amount or quantity
Greater or lesser (whichever is seen as more advantageous), in reference to value, distance, time, etc.
The top electric vehicles have a range of 300 kilometres or better. (better = greater)
Only one swimmer finished the race with a time better than two minutes. (better = lesser)
Had better.
You better do that if you know what's good for you.
An entity, usually animate, deemed superior to another; one who has a claim to precedence; a superior.
He quickly found Ali his better in the ring.
Alternative spelling of bettor
(transitive) To improve.
(intransitive) To become better; to improve.
This government will better this society
(transitive) To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel.
(transitive) To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of.
Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; as, a better man; a better physician; a better house; a better air.
Could make the worse appearThe better reason.
Preferable in regard to rank, value, use, fitness, acceptableness, safety, or in any other respect.
To obey is better than sacrifice.
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
Greater in amount; larger; more.
Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the patient is better.
More advanced; more perfect; as, upon better acquaintance; a better knowledge of the subject.
My dear, my better half (said he),I find I must now leave thee.
By all that's holy, he had better starveThan but once think this place becomes thee not.
Advantage, superiority, or victory; - usually with of; as, to get the better of an enemy.
One who has a claim to precedence; a superior, as in merit, social standing, etc.; - usually in the plural.
Their betters would hardly be found.
One who bets or lays a wager.
In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success; as, Henry writes better than John; veterans fight better than recruits.
I could have better spared a better man.
More correctly or thoroughly.
The better to understand the extent of our knowledge.
In a higher or greater degree; more; as, to love one better than another.
Never was monarch better feared, and loved.
More, in reference to value, distance, time, etc.; as, ten miles and better.
To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of.
Love betters what is best.
He thought to better his circumstances.
To improve the condition of, morally, physically, financially, socially, or otherwise.
The constant effort of every man to better himself.
To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel.
The works of nature do always aim at that which can not be bettered.
To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of.
Weapons more violent, when next we meet,May serve to better us and worse our foes.
To become better; to improve.
One having claim to precedence; a superior;
The common man has been kept in his place by his betters
Someone who bets
The superior one of two alternatives;
Chose the better of the two
Surpass in excellence;
She bettered her own record
Break a record
To make better;
The editor improved the manuscript with his changes
Get better;
The weather improved toward evening
(comparative of `good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another;
You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din
A better coat
A better type of car
A suit with a better fit
A better chance of success
Produced a better mousetrap
She's better in math than in history
(comparative of `good') changed for the better in health or fitness;
Her health is better now
I feel better
(comparative and superlative of `well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable;
It would be better to speak to him
The White House thought it best not to respond
More than half;
Argued for the better part of an hour
Comparative of `well'; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.;
She had never sung better
A deed better left undone
Better suited to the job
From a position of superiority or authority;
Father knows best
I know better.
Of a more excellent or effective type or quality.
This is a better solution than the previous one.
In a more excellent manner.
She sings better than her sister.
More appropriate or advantageous.
It's better to be safe than sorry.
Better Meaning in a Sentence
Drinking water makes you feel better when you're dehydrated.
A good night's sleep is better than any medicine for fatigue.
It's better to ask for directions than to get lost.
Reading the book is better than watching the movie.
She felt better after apologizing for her mistake.
The sequel was better than the original movie.
She's getting better at speaking Spanish.
Homemade meals are often better than fast food.
Practicing every day will make you a better musician.
His mood is much better on sunny days.
The view from the mountain top is better than from the hill.
The room looks better after it was painted.
They're hoping for better weather tomorrow.
He's feeling much better since he started the new treatment.
She finds classical music better for studying than pop music.
Exercise is better for health than sitting all day.
Completing the work early is better than procrastinating.
The team played better in the second half of the game.
It's better to be safe than sorry.
The project turned out better than expected.
It's better to arrive early than late.
A handwritten note is better than a text for personal messages.
Listening is often better than speaking in a discussion.
It's better to give than to receive.
A better understanding of the subject comes from asking questions.
Better Idioms & Phrases
For better or worse
Accepting all outcomes, whether they are good or bad.
They promised to stay together for better or worse.
Better off
In a better situation or condition.
You're better off without those toxic friends.
Better safe than sorry
It's better to be cautious than to be reckless and regret it later.
I always carry an umbrella, better safe than sorry.
The better part of
Almost all of something.
He spent the better part of his life traveling the world.
Better late than never
It's better to do something late than not do it at all.
He finally sent a birthday card, better late than never.
To better oneself
To improve one's social status or financial situation.
He's taking night classes to better himself.
Had better
A suggestion or warning that something should be done.
You had better finish your homework before going out.
None the better for
Not improved by.
After the repair, the computer was none the better for it.
All the better to
Used to indicate that something is advantageous for a specific purpose.
All the better to see you with, my dear.
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't
It's better to deal with a familiar problem than to risk a change that could lead to bigger problems.
She decided to stay in her job, thinking better the devil you know.
Common Curiosities
What is the verb form of Better?
Better (as in "to better oneself").
What is the root word of Better?
The adjective "good" is its comparative form.
Which vowel is used before Better?
The vowel "e" is used.
What is the plural form of Better?
Betters (in contexts like "knowing your betters").
Which conjunction is used with Better?
Standard conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used.
Is Better an adverb?
Yes.
Why is it called Better?
Derived from Old English, "better" describes something superior or of higher quality.
What is the pronunciation of Better?
/ˈbɛtər/
Is Better a negative or positive word?
Generally positive, but context-specific.
Is Better a collective noun?
No.
Is the word Better imperative?
No.
Which preposition is used with Better?
Commonly "than," as in "better than."
Which article is used with Better?
Both "a" and "the" can be used, depending on context.
Is Better an abstract noun?
No.
Is the Better term a metaphor?
Not inherently, but can be used metaphorically.
How many syllables are in Better?
Two syllables.
What is the first form of Better?
This question doesn't apply as "better" is mainly an adjective/adverb. However, for the verb, it's "better."
What is the singular form of Better?
Better.
What is a stressed syllable in Better?
The first syllable "bet" is stressed.
What part of speech is Better?
Adjective, noun, adverb, or verb depending on context.
Is Better a countable noun?
In some contexts, as in "knowing your betters."
Is the word “Better” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
It can be a direct object, e.g., "She achieved a better."
How do we divide Better into syllables?
Bet-ter.
What is another term for Better?
Superior.
What is the opposite of Better?
Worse.
Is Better a noun or adjective?
Both, depending on context.
Is the word Better a gerund?
No.
What is the second form of Better?
For the verb, it's "bettered."
Is Better a vowel or consonant?
The word "Better" starts with a consonant.
Which determiner is used with Better?
Determiners like "this," "that," "much," etc., can be used.
What is the third form of Better?
For the verb, it's "bettered."
How is Better used in a sentence?
Example: "She performed better in this exam than the last one."
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
