Author: writewellediting

Be honest… Are you not totally sure what the difference is between “good” and “well”? Or, do you not really know when to use one or the other? Don’t worry—you’re not alone. In fact, it wouldn’t be outrageous to assert that nearly everyone has used good and/or well incorrectly before. But, that’s no reason not to learn their correct usages. Mastery of such simple yet frequently misused words will go a long way in helping you impress your peers and superiors alike.

Let’s start by establishing the basics of each word. “Good” has numerous meanings, from handsome, suitable, or profitable to virtuous, skillful, or loyal. According to Merriam-Webster, “well” has similar definitions, including “in a proper or friendly manner,” “with skill or aptitude,” and “with good appearance and effect.” …You may be thinking this isn’t super helpful, and you’re right—with a troublesome word pair like this, definitions can sometimes add to the confusion. But, they set the stage for what will help.

You see, the primary difference between “good” and “well” is the part of speech each represents—”good” is an adjective, whereas “well” is typically an adverb. To clarify, “good” modifies a person, place, or thing, as in “That’s a good idea.” In this case, “good” is an adjective modifying the noun “idea.” On the other hand, “well” modifies an action, as in “You did well.” Here, “well” is an adverb modifying the verb “did.”

Now, just because nothing can ever be simple in the English language, there are some additional considerations to keep in mind. First, nonaction or copular verbs, which describe a state of being, are paired with “good” rather than “well.” These verbs include “to be,” “to feel,” “to seem,” and “to look.” To put this into perspective, you wouldn’t say: “That book is well.” Instead, you would say: “That book is good.” The trick here is that, even though “good” is coming directly after the verb, it’s still acting as an adjective modifying the noun—”book.” Second, you should use “well” as an adjective when referring to health or well-being. For instance, you would say: “She doesn’t feel well.” If you said “She doesn’t feel good,” you’d be commenting that she is not adept at feeling.

An issue that often comes up in the discussion of “good” versus “well” is how to appropriately respond to the question “How are you?” …What do you usually say? “I’m good”? Or, “I’m well”? Technically, since you’re discussing your well-being rather than your virtue or competence, the correct reply would be “I’m well” (though some sources, such as https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/good-versus-well, have an alternative perspective). However, in this day and age, the “I’m good” response has become so common that it is generally acceptable in most settings.

Ultimately, it’s up to you. If you’re in a particularly academic or professional atmosphere, and the culture dictates that “I’m well” would be a better response, go with that. However, if you’re in a more personal or laid-back environment, and “I’m well” would come off as condescending or stiff, go with “I’m good.” When it comes down to it, all that really matters is that you communicate meaningfully and intelligently with those around you without violating the norms of the group.

So, how do you feel now? Is the difference between “good” and “well” a bit clearer? Do you think you can now respond to “How are you?” with confidence and resolve? If you answered “Yes” to those questions, you’re making great progress in improving your English skills and standing out as an articulate individual. Keep up the good work, and you should continue to do well.

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably been known to say something along the lines of “The content team is comprised of content coordinators, graphic designers, and media specialists.” You probably use this kind of language to achieve a more academic or professional tone, right? But, does that usage of “comprise” truly make you sound more intelligent? Or, does it make you sound foolish?

According to Merriam-Webster, “comprise” is a transitive verb meaning “to be made up of.” To give you a clearer picture of what that means, here are some synonyms: “embrace,” “contain,” and “include.” Now, think about these for a moment. You wouldn’t say “The class is included of graduates and undergraduates” or “The United States is contained of 50 states,” right? This highlights the fundamental problem with using the phrase “is comprised of.” Just like you wouldn’t say ” is embraced of,” “is contained of,” or “is included of,” you wouldn’t say “The content team is comprised of content coordinators, graphic designers, and media specialists.” Instead, you would say: “The content team comprises content coordinators, graphic designers, and media specialists.”

If you really want to follow that original phrasing for a sentence, you could simply use the word “composed” in place of “comprised.” For example, it would be correct to say: “The content team is composed of content coordinators, graphic designers, and media specialists.” Or, you could switch everything around and use “constitute”: “The content coordinators, graphic designers, and media specialists constitute the content team.” Whichever verb you decide to go with, just make sure you’re using it properly.

As you’ve probably noticed, in today’s world, it’s pretty common for people to use “comprise” incorrectly, even in formal writing or conversations. Hopefully, knowing what you now know, you won’t be one of those people in the future. Remember, the language you use is critical for excelling in your pursuits and attaining ultimate success.