# Is "good paying jobs" grammatically correct? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 16, 2020, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-good-paying-jobs-grammatically-correct/925718 "2020-11-16T17:30:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-good-paying-jobs-grammatically-correct/925718/21 "2020-11-17T18:11:21Z")
> [@Falchion](#): > > Would that “misunderestimate” had become as popular–I like that word. I really like _misunderestimate_ too. GHWB was great for well-meaning, as opposed to flat ignorant, malapropisms. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2020, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-good-paying-jobs-grammatically-correct/925718/22 "2020-11-17T20:04:43Z")
In standard speech a well-paid job is equivalent to a well-paying job. The use of “paid” does not imply that the job is not ongoing. Only pedants would see an error. I think you’re confusing the levels of formality that I mentioned earlier. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-good-paying-jobs-grammatically-correct/925718/23 "2020-11-17T20:54:59Z")
The two words “good” and “paying” appear to be part of a modifier chain, which are adhering to the general English rules of modifier ordering. “Good” does not modify “paying”, it modifies “job”. Hence, a “good paying job” is a good job that is not volunteer work. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2020, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-good-paying-jobs-grammatically-correct/925718/24 "2020-11-17T22:04:47Z")
I totally disagree. In standard speech “good” modifies “paying”, i.e. it pays a significant amount of money. The type of job is irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2020, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-good-paying-jobs-grammatically-correct/925718/25 "2020-11-17T22:25:40Z")
I totally agree with your disagreement. Contrast “high paying job” vs. “low paying job”. It’s not about the altitude of the job, or the social status of the job. It’s about the size of the paycheck: large(r) or small(er). ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2020, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-good-paying-jobs-grammatically-correct/925718/26 "2020-11-17T22:36:17Z")
Right. And it doesn’t even work in formal language. A series of modifiers that operate on a noun should be separated by commas: a good, easy, respectable, secure job. “A good paying job” absolutely implies that “good” modifies “paying” while “a good, paying job” does not, formally. Note that “a paying good job” is a non-starter in English speech. “A paying, good job” is possible in written English, but means that the job has two separate qualities: it is good and it also pays. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2020, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-good-paying-jobs-grammatically-correct/925718/27 "2020-11-18T15:55:02Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > In standard speech a well-paid job is equivalent to a well-paying job. The use of “paid” does not imply that the job is not ongoing. Do you have a cite for this? I recognize that my experience is likely not representative of any larger speech community. I’d like to see if what you say is anything more than your idiolect. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2020, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-good-paying-jobs-grammatically-correct/925718/28 "2020-11-18T17:14:54Z")
From the [Collins dictionary](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/well-paid-job): > # Example sentences > > well-paid job > > It’s all basic [wages](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/wage); there are no well-paid jobs. > > Times, Sunday Times (2009) > > We [want](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/want) to show that there is another way for young people to [progress](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/progress) into well-paid jobs with [prospects](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/prospect). > > Times, Sunday Times (2010) > > The long hours and lack of family time that [accompany](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/accompany) well-paid jobs appear to [cancel](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/cancel) out the [potential](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/potential) [emotional](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/emotional) [benefits](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/benefit) of [wealth](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/wealth). > > Times, Sunday Times (2010) If you object those are British uses, then use the [Google search](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=%22well+paid+job%22) I did to find dozens of in-the-wild examples. Now, could you please show me any examples of real world use of your distinction? ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-good-paying-jobs-grammatically-correct/925718/29 "2020-11-18T19:29:54Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > If you object those are British uses, then use the [Google search](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=%22well+paid+job%22) I did to find dozens of in-the-wild examples. > > Now, could you please show me any examples of real world use of your distinction? No, those are fine. I’m not sure why you’re argumentative about this. I never claimed to be describing standard English, but only mine own usage. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2020, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-good-paying-jobs-grammatically-correct/925718/30 "2020-11-19T03:55:53Z")
Isn’t the whole point of the Dope to be argumentative? All the threads would be two posts long if people agreed. More seriously, your posts didn’t seem like you were describing your own usage, but making more general statements about what’s wrong and right. I see nothing wrong with disputing those. All goes to show that language is a slippery tool, which easily can backfire on the user and on the commentator. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-good-paying-jobs-grammatically-correct/925718.md?page=1)