going well

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "going well" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something is progressing in a favorable manner. For example, "Our vacation planning is going well and we have already booked our flights."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Things were going well.

The New Yorker

It's going well.

The Economist

School was going well.

The New Yorker

It's not going well.

The New York Times

"It's going well enough".

The New York Times

Everything is going well.

The New York Times

None is going well.

The New York Times

It wasn't going well.

Independent

Not going well.

The New York Times

It was not going well.

The New Yorker

This is not going well.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "going well" to describe the positive progress of a project, activity, or situation. Ensure that the subject is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "Things are going well", specify "The project is going well".

Common error

Avoid using "going well" as a standalone statement without context. It's more effective to provide specific details about what aspects are progressing positively. For instance, instead of just saying "Everything is going well", elaborate with "Sales are strong, and customer feedback is positive".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "going well" primarily functions as a predicate in a sentence, often following a subject to describe its current state of progress or condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates a positive or satisfactory progression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "going well" is a versatile and commonly used expression to indicate that something is progressing positively or satisfactorily. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and adaptable to various contexts, including news, business, and general conversation. It is important to use the phrase with specificity to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives like "progressing smoothly" or "on track" can offer nuanced meanings, "going well" remains a reliable and widely understood way to convey optimism and satisfaction about ongoing activities or situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

progressing smoothly

Replaces the verb "go" with "progress" and adds "smoothly" to emphasize the ease of the process.

advancing successfully

Uses "advance" instead of "go" and "successfully" to highlight the positive outcome.

proceeding without difficulty

Focuses on the absence of problems, suggesting a smooth and positive progression.

developing favorably

Emphasizes the positive direction of the development.

faring positively

Uses "faring" to describe how someone or something is doing, with "positively" indicating a good outcome.

shaping up nicely

An idiomatic expression suggesting that something is developing into a pleasing form.

turning out great

Focuses on the eventual outcome being positive.

on track

Implies that something is following the planned course and achieving expected results.

in good shape

Indicates that something is in a favorable condition or state of progress.

flourishing

Suggests that something is growing or developing in a healthy and vigorous way.

FAQs

How can I use "going well" in a sentence?

You can use "going well" to describe the positive progression of a task, project, or situation. For example, "The training is going well", "Our marketing campaign is going well", or "His recovery is going well".

What can I say instead of "going well"?

You can use alternatives like "progressing smoothly", "developing favorably", or "on track" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "things are going well"?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable and common to say "things are going well" to indicate that a situation or multiple aspects of a situation are progressing positively. This phrase is widely used and understood in both formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "going well" and "going good"?

"Going well" is the grammatically correct phrase to describe positive progress. "Going good" is considered incorrect in standard English. Always use "going well" to maintain proper grammar.