Good job

USAGE SUMMARY

"Good job" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to congratulate someone on a job well done or to give praise or encouragement. For example: "Good job on finishing the presentation on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Good job, good apartment".

The New Yorker

"Good job, fellas.

The New Yorker

"Good job," he replied.

The New York Times

"Good job," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

"Good job," said Trump.

Independent

Good job, ladies.

The New York Times

"Good job," one said.

The New York Times

"Good job," he says.

The New York Times

"Good job!" she said.

The New York Times - Science

"Good job," Mr. Torres said.

The New York Times

"Good job, dude," Glazer said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your praise with alternatives like "well done" or "nice work" to keep your feedback engaging and sincere.

Common error

Avoid using "Good job" excessively, as it can lose its impact. Provide specific feedback alongside your praise to make it more meaningful. For example, instead of just saying "Good job", say "Good job organizing the data; it was very clear and easy to understand".

Linguistic Context

"Good job" functions primarily as an interjection used to express approval, encouragement, or congratulations. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is a common way to acknowledge someone's effort or achievement. It can also function as a noun, referring to a positive outcome or situation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Wiki

11%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "Good job" is a common interjection used to express approval or congratulations, as confirmed by Ludwig. It can also function as a noun, referring to a positive outcome. While generally informal, it is widely used across various contexts, including news media, business settings, and everyday conversations. To avoid overuse, consider using alternatives like "well done" or "nice work". As Ludwig AI validates, the expression is grammatically correct and suitable for a range of situations, offering a straightforward way to acknowledge someone's achievement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Well done

A straightforward alternative expressing congratulations.

Nice work

Similar to "Good job", indicating approval of someone's effort.

Excellent

A more emphatic expression of approval.

Great effort

Focuses on the effort put into the task.

That's great

Expresses approval and satisfaction.

You nailed it

An informal way of saying someone performed perfectly.

Outstanding

A more formal and strong expression of approval.

Fantastic

Expresses enthusiastic approval.

Superb

A formal and elegant way to express approval.

Way to go

An encouraging phrase expressing congratulations.

FAQs

How can I use "Good job" in a sentence?

"Good job" is typically used as an interjection to express approval or congratulations. For example, "If you hadn't hit that last ball, we would have lost. Good job!"

What can I say instead of "Good job"?

You can use alternatives like "well done", "nice work", or "that's great" depending on the context.

Is "Good job" formal or informal?

"Good job" is generally considered informal and suitable for everyday conversation. For more formal settings, consider using phrases like "Well done" or "Excellent work".

When is it appropriate to use "Good job"?

It's appropriate to use "Good job" when you want to acknowledge someone's effort or success in a task. It is suitable for both professional and personal settings, but be mindful of the level of formality required by the situation.