Well paying jobs

Posted by RRC on January 25, 2010 at 06:50

In Reply to: Well paying jobs posted by David FG on January 24, 2010 at 15:50:

: : The American Petroleum Institute (API) has a series of television ads where the spokesperson talks about "well paying jobs." To my ear that phrase sounds incorrect. "Good paying jobs" sounds correct. Recently U.S. President Obama used "well paying jobs" in a televised speech. Anyone have any comments?

: Neither sounds quite right to me. I would say 'well-paid jobs'.

: DFG

To a grammar stickler, "good paying jobs" can only be good jobs that also happen to pay (unlike good non-paying jobs) since good is an adjective it must modify jobs and not paying. Well-paid jobs sound like they're over and done with to me. I did the job and was well paid. Now what am I going to do next week?

• Well paying jobs David FG 25/January/10
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