come along

USAGE SUMMARY

'come along' is a perfectly grammatical phrase used in written English.
It is often used to encourage or urge someone to join in an activity or to come somewhere with you. For example, you could say: "Come along, the party's about to start!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"And Daly'll come along".

The New Yorker

They'd come along later.

The New Yorker

Would I come along?

The New York Times

Now come along".

The New Yorker

"No, come along," he says.

The New Yorker

New ones come along.

Harvard Business Review

Now, Thomas, come along.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Come along and enjoy!

The Guardian

Cameron: Come along, Jeremy.

The Guardian

Come along then!

The Guardian

The kids hadn't come along yet.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come along" to invite someone to join you in an activity or to encourage progress. For example, "Come along, let's explore the new exhibit!" or "The project is coming along nicely."

Common error

Avoid using "come along" when a more formal invitation is appropriate. In professional settings, a direct invitation like "Please join us" might be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

"Come along" serves primarily as an imperative phrase, used to encourage someone to accompany the speaker or to proceed together. Ludwig provides examples illustrating its use in invitations and directives. The phrase can also function as an observation of progress.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

12%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

5%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Come along" is a versatile phrase used primarily to invite someone to join you or to describe progress. As Ludwig AI highlights, its grammatical function spans both imperative and descriptive uses. While generally neutral to informal in register, it appears most frequently in news and media, with less common usage in academic and scientific contexts. For alternatives, consider phrases like "join me" or "make progress" depending on your intent. Use "come along" judiciously, keeping in mind the specific context to maintain appropriate formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

join me

Direct invitation to participate or go together.

go with me

Simple and direct request to go together.

accompany me

Emphasizes the act of joining someone.

let's go

Expresses eagerness to depart or start an activity.

get moving

Encouragement to start or continue moving.

tag along

Informal way of saying to accompany someone, often uninvited.

hurry up

Urges someone to be faster or quicker.

make progress

Focuses on advancement or development.

move forward

Indicates a progression in a certain direction.

advance

Highlights forward movement or improvement.

FAQs

How can I use "come along" in a sentence?

"Come along" can be used to invite someone to join you, as in "Come along with me to the concert!" or to describe progress, such as "The renovation is "coming along nicely"".

What are some alternatives to "come along" when inviting someone?

Instead of "come along", you could say "join me", "accompany me", or "go with me", depending on the context and level of formality.

How does "come along" differ from "tag along"?

"Come along" is a general invitation to join, while "tag along" often implies joining someone, perhaps uninvited or as a follower. The tone of "tag along" is more informal and can sometimes imply a lack of specific purpose.

Is it correct to use "come along" in a professional setting?

While "come along" is grammatically correct, it may be too informal for certain professional contexts. Consider using more formal alternatives like "please join us" or "we invite you" in business correspondence.