how things goes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'how things goes' is not correct in written English.
The correct phrase is 'how things go' or 'how things are going'. Example: I'm curious to see how things go with the new job.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Surprise them with a "no" and see how things goes.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

This was how things went.

The New Yorker

"It's how things go".

The New York Times - Sports

Which is not usually how things go.

The New Yorker

And see how things go.

Harvard Business Review

That's how things go.

The New York Times - Travel

No one can say how things went".

The Guardian

No word on how things went.

The New York Times

So we'll see how things go.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I'm very excited about how things went".

The New York Times - Sports

"It just shows how things go when you are greedy".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past events, use "how things went" to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using singular verb forms (like "goes") with plural subjects (like "things"). Remember that "things" takes a plural verb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how things goes" incorrectly attempts to function as a relative clause or indirect question, often to inquire about the state or progress of events. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "how things goes" is grammatically incorrect; the correct forms are "how things go" or "how things are going". As Ludwig AI points out, using "goes" with the plural subject "things" constitutes a subject-verb disagreement. While examples of the incorrect phrase exist, particularly in informal contexts like social media, it's crucial to use the accurate forms in formal writing. Alternatives like "how things went", "the way things are", or "the state of affairs" may be appropriate depending on the intended meaning. Always ensure subject-verb agreement to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how things are going

This alternative uses the present continuous tense to describe the current state of affairs.

how things go

This is the grammatically correct form using the simple present tense to describe a general course of events.

how things went

This alternative uses the past tense to describe a completed course of events.

the way things are

This option focuses on the present condition or situation.

the state of affairs

This alternative is a more formal way to describe the current situation.

what's happening

This phrase uses a more direct and informal approach to inquire about current events.

how it's panning out

This idiom suggests the unfolding or progression of a situation.

the course of events

This refers to the sequence of occurrences, especially as affecting the final outcome.

how the situation develops

This alternative emphasizes the evolving nature of a particular scenario.

the progress being made

This highlights the advancement or improvement in a particular situation.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "how things goes"?

The correct phrasing is either "how things go" (present simple, for general situations) or "how things are going" (present continuous, for current situations).

When should I use "how things went" instead of "how things goes"?

Use "how things went" when you are talking about something that happened in the past. For example, "I'm curious to know how things went at the meeting".

What's the difference between "how things go" and "how things are going"?

"How things go" refers to general patterns or usual occurrences, while "how things are going" refers to the current state or progress of a situation. For example: "That's just how things go sometimes" versus "Let's see how things are going with the project".

Are there any formal alternatives to "how things are going"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "the state of affairs", "the current situation", or "the progress being made" depending on the context.