go to phrase

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'go to phrase' is not correct English.
You cannot use it in written English. An example of correct and usable written English would be: "I'm going to the store to pick up some eggs."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When a kid feels threatened, he needs to have a go to phrase at the ready.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

You might learn that one person is always going to phrase every question as a question, and another person is going to phrase every question as an option.

The New York Times

The main relevant difference with written language is that the language producer has more opportunity to reflect thoughtfully on how they are going to phrase things.

SEP

"They've thought about how they're going to phrase it.

Huffington Post

Take some deep breaths and think of how you are going to phrase the question or what you want to say.

WikiHow

Try to make every word count, and think about how you're going to phrase something before you open your mouth.

WikiHow

And having "Mercury retrograde" as a go-to phrase to describe things going wrong can be pretty useful.

The New York Times - Style

But dude-country: How would that have gone down?" He compares it to another go-to phrase of cultural criticism: hipster.

The Guardian - Music

The go-to phrase was repeated again this week when a government memorandum showed Jones and her boyfriend, Tim Montgomery, were among 27 athletes Conte named as having received steroids from Balco.

The New York Times - Sports

It became a go-to phrase for mumbled or garbled explanations and the trump card in arguments, but this sort of overuse just desensitises us to the real issue which is that, yes, some men really do talk down to women.

The Guardian

It's the go-to phrase for purveyors of techno-hype.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the grammatically questionable phrase "go to phrase", consider using the more common and accepted phrase "go-to phrase".

Common error

Many writers mistakenly use "go to" when they actually mean "go-to", which functions as an adjective. Remember that "go-to" (with a hyphen) describes something that is a reliable or default choice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "go to phrase" in its literal form functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun. However, it's often intended to mean the adjectival "go-to phrase", describing a frequently used expression. Ludwig AI indicates that the unhyphenated form is not considered correct English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "go to phrase" is flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect in its direct form. The intended meaning generally points to the adjectival "go-to phrase", indicating a frequently used expression. As an alternative, consider using "go-to phrase" (with a hyphen) to correctly convey the intended meaning. While examples show its presence in various sources, focusing on correct grammatical structure and context is key for clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

common expression

Focuses on the widespread use of a saying, removing the directional element.

frequently used term

Emphasizes the regular use of a specific word or phrase.

standard expression

Highlights the conventional or accepted nature of the phrase.

preferred wording

Shifts the focus to a chosen method of phrasing something.

usual way of saying it

Indicates a typical manner of expressing a particular idea.

typical phrase

Indicates a conventional or expected phrase.

customary expression

Highlights the habitual or traditional use of the expression.

accepted phrasing

Highlights the widespread adoption and approval of specific wording.

stock phrase

Emphasizes the trite or overused quality of the expression.

clichéd expression

Underscores the lack of originality and overuse of the phrase.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "go to" and "go-to"?

"Go to" is a verb phrase indicating movement or direction, while "go-to" (with a hyphen) is an adjective describing something that is a reliable or default choice. For example: "I need to go to the store" versus "He is our "go-to person" for tech support".

What does "go-to" mean?

"Go-to" is an adjective that describes something that is regularly relied upon or used; a default option. It implies reliability and suitability for a particular purpose.

How can I use "go-to phrase" correctly in a sentence?

Use "go-to phrase" as an adjective modifying a noun. For example: "His "go-to phrase" when he's stressed is 'This is fine'."

What are some synonyms for "go-to"?

Some synonyms for "go-to" include: "reliable", "default", "preferred", "trustworthy", "dependable", and "favorite".