good night

USAGE SUMMARY

"good night" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are saying goodbye to someone at the end of the day or at the end of a conversation. For example, "It was nice chatting with you. Good night!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Good night, ladies, good night, sweet ladies, good night, good night.

The New Yorker

Good night, good night.

The New York Times

good night".

The New York Times - Books

Good night.

University of California, Berkeley

— Good night, Mick.

The New Yorker

Good night, kids.

The New Yorker

Good night, dining room.

The New York Times

"Good night, you two".

The New Yorker

Good night, officer.

The New Yorker

Good night, people".

The New York Times - Sports

Good night all!

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "good night" to politely end a conversation or interaction in the evening or before bedtime. It is appropriate for both formal and informal settings.

Common error

Don't confuse "good night" with "good evening". Use "good evening" as a greeting when you meet someone in the evening, and "good night" as a farewell.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "good night" is as an interjection or farewell phrase. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s used to express a polite way of saying goodbye at the end of the day. It serves to conclude conversations and interactions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "good night" is a grammatically correct and highly versatile phrase used to bid farewell, especially at the end of the day. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. The phrase is very common, with examples appearing across news, media, and academic sources. For slight variations, alternatives such as "night", "sleep well", and "sweet dreams" can be used to express similar sentiments. Its widespread usage and acceptance make it a reliable choice for ending conversations or interactions politely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Night

This is a shortened, more casual version of "good night".

Night night

This is a more affectionate and informal way to say "good night", often used with children.

Good evening

Used primarily in the early part of the night, but shares the same sentiment as "good night".

Sleep well

Focuses on wishing someone a restful sleep, similar to the intent of "good night".

Sweet dreams

An alternative that conveys wishes for pleasant dreams during sleep.

Have a good sleep

A more descriptive way of wishing someone a pleasant sleep.

I'm off to bed

This phrase indicates your intention to sleep and implicitly says "good night".

I'm going to turn in

A slightly old-fashioned way of saying you are going to sleep, similar to saying "good night".

Until tomorrow

This phrase implies a farewell until the next day, much like "good night".

See you in the morning

Indicates a plan to meet again the next morning, serving as a way to say goodbye for the night.

FAQs

How do I use "good night" in a sentence?

You can use "good night" to say goodbye at the end of the day, for example: "It was lovely seeing you, "good night"!"

What's the difference between "good evening" and "good night"?

"Good evening" is a greeting used when you meet someone in the evening, while "good night" is a farewell said when parting ways at night.

Are there alternative phrases to "good night"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "sleep well", "sweet dreams", or simply "night" depending on the context and your relationship with the person.

Is "good night" formal or informal?

"Good night" is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal settings. Its appropriateness makes it a safe and polite choice for most situations.