as they go

USAGE SUMMARY

"as they go" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is a phrase that can be used to indicate a simultaneous or ongoing action. You can use it when describing a group of people who are moving or traveling together. Example: As they go on their journey, the group encountered many challenges and obstacles along the way.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And as they go, others follow.

The New York Times

They also mutate as they go.

The Economist

They're figuring it out as they go.

Yale University

These experiments are good in so far as they go.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

Others are eating as they go too.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A logical enough argument as they go.

The Guardian - Opinion

They're making it up as they go.

The Guardian - Film

They write the script as they go.

The Guardian

The women learn as they go.

The New York Times

They're making it up as they go along.

Yale University

"As they go, the aquatic system goes," he says.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as they go" to indicate actions or changes happening concurrently with movement or progression. For example, "They learned new skills as they went through the training program."

Common error

Avoid using "as they go" when you actually mean a sequential relationship where one action finishes before another begins. Ensure the actions truly occur simultaneously or progressively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as they go" functions as a temporal conjunction, indicating that an action or state is occurring simultaneously with movement or progression. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating this concurrent relationship.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

22%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as they go" is a versatile phrase serving as a temporal conjunction to describe simultaneous or progressive actions, confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its usage spans across diverse contexts, primarily in news, academia, and science, marking it as a commonly used phrase with a neutral register. Related phrases include "while progressing" and "during their advance", offering nuanced alternatives. The phrase is grammatically correct, as indicated by Ludwig, and should be used when indicating concurrent actions during movement or progression. Avoid using it for sequential actions. With its frequent appearance in reputable sources, "as they go" proves to be a reliable and effective way to add context to dynamic situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as they move along

Similar to the original, but with a stronger sense of forward movement.

while progressing

Focuses on the continuous nature of the action during advancement.

on their way

Emphasizes the journey and actions taken during it.

during their advance

Highlights the temporal aspect of an action happening while moving forward.

while underway

Highlights that actions happen while something is in progress or transit.

in the process

Emphasizes that something happens while a process is unfolding.

concurrently

Stresses the simultaneity of actions or events.

in transit

Focuses on something happening during the act of moving from one place to another.

at the same time

Points out the co-occurrence of events.

simultaneously

Indicates that multiple actions are happening at the same moment.

FAQs

How can I use "as they go" in a sentence?

"As they go" indicates that something is happening while a group is moving or progressing. For example, "The team adapted their strategy "as they go" during the competition".

What's an alternative to "as they go"?

Alternatives include "while progressing", "during their advance", or "in the process", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "as they went" instead of "as they go"?

Yes, "as they went" is the past tense form and is correct when referring to something that happened in the past. "As they go" refers to the present or future.

How does "as they go" differ from "as they proceed"?

"As they go" implies movement or progression, while "as they proceed" simply suggests continuing forward, which may not necessarily involve physical movement. They are similar, but "as they go" often has a spatial or progressive dimension.