7

I wrote the following question in another StackExchange website:

If I want to save and retrieve an object, should I create another class to handle it, or it would be better to do that in the class itself?

Is it better to say it as:

If I want to save and retrieve an object, should I create another class to handle it, or I'd better to do that within the class itself?

I thought the second is better because it is in accord with the first sentence of the OR conjunction (both begin with "I").

In general, are they equivalent? I mean "it would be better.." and "I'd better..."? Which is more common?

Improve this question
3
  • @choster -- This quote looks like a question posted on a professional-level programming Q&A board (such as a StackExchange site). It could even be a topic question in a book on programming, written in a semi-formal Q&A style.
    – Jasper
    Commented Dec 17, 2015 at 17:23
  • Depending on your audience you could even get away with an elided form "or better to do that...?"
    – shawnt00
    Commented Dec 17, 2015 at 17:55
  • @choster As I modified the question, its a question in a Q&A website
    – Ahmad
    Commented Dec 17, 2015 at 19:51

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
15

Both are not quite right.

"It would be better" is how you would phrase a declarative sentence - a statement of fact. To ask a question, start with the question word ("Would it be better...?"). This makes the whole question of the contraction unnecessary :)

But if you still want to know a bit about "it would" read on:

1) The correct contraction for "it would" is "it'd". I'd means "I would", or "I had", depending on the context. For example, "I'd better..." Would be "I had better...", meaning that I should do something. "I'd like..." means "I would like..."

2) "It'd" is not very common in written English (although it is common in spoken English). As a general rule, I would use "it would" 99% of the time.

Improve this answer
3
  • 3
    Seconding the "would it be better" suggestion. "If I want to save and retrieve an object, should I create another class to handle it, or would it be better to do that in the class itself?"
    – Easy Tiger
    Commented Dec 17, 2015 at 16:38
  • Thank you, yes, I mistook in making the question, but that wasn't my question. I asked about which is more appropriate there. or their difference, "I'd better" and "It would be better".
    – Ahmad
    Commented Dec 17, 2015 at 19:54
  • 1
    Note: you made the same mistake of "I'd better" rather than "It'd [be] better". I'd != it'd. But yes, "it would be better" is the appropriate option of those 2, not "it'd/I'd be better". (but "would it be better?" is how you to ask a question.)
    – Sarah
    Commented Dec 17, 2015 at 22:36
8

We use “had better” plus the infinitive without “to” to give advice. Although “had” is the past form of “have”, we use “had better” to give advice about the present or future.

You'd better tell her everything. I'd better get back to work.

Improve this answer
2
  • 5
    It's worth to mention that its negative form is had better not and not had not better.
    – Schwale
    Commented Dec 17, 2015 at 17:30
  • Then you mean in my question, I'd better use "would it better"?
    – Ahmad
    Commented Dec 17, 2015 at 19:55
4

Your two sentences would make more sense if they were:

If I want to save and retrieve an object, should I create another class to handle it, or would it be better to do that in the class itself?

You started a question, so your phrases should all be questions (as mentioned by Sarah). When you are using "it" in "would it be better", you are talking about the situation you will be in if you follow that path.

Or:

If I want to save and retrieve an object, should I create another class to handle it, or would I be better off doing that within the class itself?

Changing the code won't improve you as a person, no matter what your boss might say! That means that "I'd be better" isn't true. As in your first sentence, your situation might improve, so you might be "better off". Note that "would" still comes first, because you are still asking a question.

"I'd better" is short for "I had better" so:

If I want to save and retrieve an object, should I create another class or had I better do that in the class itself?

This is a less common way of asking for a comparison of two options, however.

It is probably simpler (and easier to understand) if you ask the question using the same type of phrase in both halves:

If I want to save and retrieve an object, should I create another class to handle it, or should I do that within the class itself?

If I want to save and retrieve an object, would it be better to create another class to handle it, or do that in the class itself?

Improve this answer
2
  • Thank you very much! you pointed "would I be better" and "I'd be better", what about "I'd better"? how to make question with it? and is it equivalent to "I'd be better"?
    – Ahmad
    Commented Dec 18, 2015 at 5:25
  • Edited to include your answer, but the difference is around "I'd better" being "I had better" and "I'd be better" is "I would be better". All options require you to put the question word at the front of the phrase anyway.
    – Graylocke
    Commented Dec 21, 2015 at 4:02

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .