sum : had better dear linguists , on behalf of my friend , i asked you to check the sentences about _ had better not _ , _ had better not _ , etc . here are his summary below . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * at the end of may , i raised a query about the acceptability of the following sentences . ( 1 ) you had n't better stay here tonight . ( 2 ) you had not better stay here tonight . ( 3 ) a : i promise i ' ll pay you back . b : you better had . to my surprise , soon after my posting , i got as many as 64 reposes . thank you very much for answering my query . i had n't expected so may people were interested on this matter . i think i should mention all the names and e-mail addresses , but there are far too many to mention . if you feel this is inadequet , please email to prof . tanaka to write your names on the list . i will immediately prepare for writing your names . the result of the inquiry is as follows : ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ok 10 0 12 ? 15 5 3 * 39 59 49 about two thirds of the respondents refused these usages and i can also add that these usages varies geometrically , especially british english , it seemed to me . i also asked for a few sentences using _ it ( or this ) had better . . . examples ( 4 ) , ( 5 ) and ( 6 ) below are typical instances of _ had better _ with inanimate subjects : ( 4 ) it had better not rain tomorrow or we can't got to the beach . ( 5 ) i spent all day working on the tv . it had better work now . ( 6 ) joe : i can explain why i am late . jane : this had better be good some people say that _ this had better be good _ is a cliche and in ( 6 ) it implies the speaker kas expectations that the excuse will be fanciful or just plain untrue . i would like to thank again to all the people who reponded . if you had any comments on this matter , please email through prof . tanaka to me . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * best wishes , hiroaki tanaka , associate professor , tokushima university , japan hiro-t @ ias . tokushima-u . ac . jp