come on now

USAGE SUMMARY

"Come on now" is correct and usable in written English.
Depending on the context, it can be used to urge someone to hurry up, to encourage someone, or to express frustration. For example, "Come on now, let's get going!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Come on, now, one drink — won't kill you.

The New Yorker

"Come on, now, pal".

The New Yorker

But come on, now.

The New Yorker

"Come on, now.

The New York Times

"Come on, now, Augie.

The New Yorker

Come on now.

The New York Times - Sports

Ah, come on now.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Come on now, son," he said.

The New York Times

"Come on, now," Riccio said to Mickey.

The New Yorker

Forty-three years old, come on now!

The New York Times

"Come on now," I said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come on now" to gently urge someone to reconsider a position or to encourage action without being overly forceful. It works well in informal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "come on now" in formal writing or professional presentations, as it can come across as too casual or even dismissive. Opt for more professional alternatives depending on your goal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come on now" primarily functions as an interjection or discourse marker. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in expressing encouragement, gentle disagreement, or impatience. Its function varies slightly based on context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "come on now" is a versatile expression used in various contexts to convey encouragement, disbelief, or mild frustration. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It is predominantly found in news and media sources, indicating a neutral to informal register. While the phrase is grammatically sound and widely understood, it's crucial to consider the audience and context, avoiding its use in formal settings where a more professional tone is required. Alternatives such as "seriously" or "let's go" can provide similar nuance with greater formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Come now

Slightly more formal and polite expression of disagreement or encouragement.

Let's go

Used to urge someone to hurry or begin an action.

Give me a break

Used to dismiss something as unbelievable or unreasonable.

Seriously

This conveys disbelief or mild exasperation.

Move it

A more forceful way of telling someone to hurry.

Be serious

Implies the other person should take a more thoughtful approach.

Get real

This challenges the validity of a statement or situation.

Hurry up

Directly tells someone to accelerate their pace.

You've got to be kidding me

This expresses strong disbelief or shock.

Enough already

Expresses frustration with something that has gone on for too long.

FAQs

How can I use "come on now" in a sentence?

"Come on now" can be used to express disbelief, encouragement, or impatience, as in "Come on now, don't be like that!", "Come on now, we're talking serious issues" or "Come on now, let's get going!".

What's a more formal alternative to "come on now"?

Depending on the context, more formal alternatives could include "please", "I urge you to", or stating your point directly and politely. For example, instead of "Come on now, that's not fair", you might say "I believe that is not equitable".

What can I say instead of "come on now" to express disbelief?

To express disbelief, you could use alternatives like "seriously", "get real", or "you've got to be kidding me".

When is it inappropriate to use "come on now"?

It's generally inappropriate to use "come on now" in formal or professional settings where a more respectful or serious tone is required. In these situations, opt for more formal and direct language.