goods

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "goods" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to items or products that are for sale or trade, often in a commercial context. Example: "The store offers a wide variety of goods, including clothing, electronics, and household items."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Piras, who hailed from the town of Ittiri on the Mediterranean island, co-founded an olive oil and wine cooperative and was tasked with marketing its goods for export, the AP reported according to Italian media.

The Guardian

Mapusa This town has a daily market full of fruit, veg, fish, bread, flowers, spices, clothes, street food and home goods.

The Guardian - Travel

Information goods undermine economic systems based on scarcity.

The Guardian - Opinion

More than half of the food in Russia's supermarkets is imported, and, when it comes to Russian consumer goods, most are either poor quality or simply do not exist.

The Guardian

The federal government is the top energy consumer in the country, with 360,000 buildings, 650,000 fleet vehicles, and $445bn spent annually on goods and services, according to a White House fact sheet.

The Guardian

So it's very hard to sell people a bill of goods that there's any good to this".

The Guardian - Film

Burberry is down 33p at £12.51 following disappointing results from luxury goods giant LVMH.

The Guardian - Business

A Tehran resident who works for an electronics company said that many businesses which rely on goods and materials from abroad would be pleased with the outcome of the talks.

The Guardian

Call it the Truth on the Label Act, which will require shops to display where their goods are made, which chemicals were used in production, and whether the factory is unionised.

The Guardian - Opinion

Guns and other manufactured goods were shipped from Europe to the west coast of Africa and exchanged for slaves who were then shipped across the Atlantic to work the plantations.

The Guardian - Travel

BrewDog has ridden the wave of enthusiasm for craft ales, which have taken off to the extent that the Office for National Statistics added them to the basket of goods it uses to calculate inflation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "goods" when referring to tangible items that are bought and sold, distinguishing them from services.

Common error

Avoid using "good" (singular) when referring to multiple items or products. "Goods" is the plural form and should be used when discussing items in a general or collective sense.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "goods" is as a plural noun. It typically refers to items or products that are for sale, trade, or consumption. As shown in Ludwig, "goods" often appears as the object of verbs related to trade, manufacturing, or retail.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "goods" is a plural noun referring to tangible items that are bought, sold, or traded. It's grammatically correct and very common in English, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. Usage is generally neutral to professional, with primary contexts including news, business, and scientific writing. When using "goods", remember to specify the type of items for clarity and to distinguish it from "services". Avoid confusing "goods" with the singular form "good". For alternative phrasing, consider "merchandise" or "products" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

merchandise

A more general term, often used in retail contexts to refer to items available for sale.

products

Focuses on items that have been manufactured or produced, suitable for broader contexts.

commodities

Refers to raw materials or primary agricultural products that are traded.

wares

An older term, often used to describe items offered for sale, especially at a market or fair.

items for sale

A descriptive phrase specifying that the items are intended to be sold.

stock

Refers to the inventory of items held by a business for sale.

inventory

Similar to 'stock', referring to the complete list of items a business holds for sale.

freight

Focuses on the transportation aspect, referring to goods being transported.

assets

A broader term encompassing all possessions of value, including goods.

supplies

Refers to items needed for a particular purpose, such as office supplies or medical supplies.

FAQs

How can I use "goods" in a sentence?

You can use "goods" to refer to items that are bought, sold, or traded. For example, "The company exports manufactured goods" or "The store offers a wide range of consumer goods".

What are some synonyms for "goods"?

Some synonyms for "goods" include "merchandise", "products", "commodities", and "wares". The best choice depends on the context.

What's the difference between "goods" and "services"?

"Goods" refers to tangible items or products, while "services" refers to intangible activities or performances. For example, a car is a good, while car repair is a service.

Is it correct to say "a goods"?

No, it's incorrect to say "a goods". "Goods" is a plural noun and does not take the indefinite article "a". You would say "some goods" or "the goods".