is it good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is it good" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when asking for an opinion about the quality of something. Example: "I just tried the new restaurant; is it good?" Alternative expressions include "is it any good," "is it worthwhile," and "is it decent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Nor is it good.

The New York Times

Why is it good?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But is it good for innovation?

The New Yorker

Who is it good for?" he wrote.

The New York Times - Books

But is it good for America?

The New York Times

So is it good policy?

The Guardian - Business

And boy, is it good.

The Guardian

"This is it: good enough".

The New Yorker

What is it good at?

The Guardian - Business

"The Plan of Return, is it good?

The New York Times

Fame!? What is it good for?

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal reporting, consider specifying the criteria for 'goodness' (e.g., 'is it economically viable?' or 'is it environmentally sound?') to provide more clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "is it good" when asking about the health or functional performance of a person or a complex process where an adverb might be expected, though 'good' as an adjective describing the state of 'it' is usually correct. Writers sometimes confuse this with 'does it work well', which describes the action rather than the essence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is it good" functions as a subject-complement interrogative clause. It consists of the copular verb 'is', the dummy or situational subject 'it', and the predicative adjective 'good'. According to Ludwig, it is a standard way to initiate a qualitative inquiry.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is it good" is one of the most versatile and essential interrogative phrases in the English language. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a high-frequency structure that spans across various domains, from evaluating the success of global policies in The Economist to asking simple lifestyle questions in The Guardian. While it is undeniably simple, its effectiveness lies in its directness. When using it, remember that its meaning is highly dependent on context—what is 'good' for a financial policy is different from what is 'good' for a new film. For writers seeking to be more precise, alternatives like "<a href="/s/is+it+advantageous" target="_blank" rel="alternative">is it advantageous" or "<a href="/s/is+it+valid" target="_blank" rel="alternative">is it valid" can provide needed specificity, but the original phrase remains a powerful choice for general qualitative inquiry.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is it any good

Adds a slightly skeptical or inquisitive nuance, common in informal British and American English.

is it worthwhile

Focuses specifically on whether the benefit of something justifies the time or effort spent.

is it effective

Shifts the focus from general quality to functional performance and results.

is it of high quality

A more formal and objective way to inquire about the standard of a product or service.

is it satisfactory

A formal way to ask if something meets expectations or requirements.

is it decent

Implies a search for a satisfactory or acceptable level rather than excellence.

is it beneficial

Common in medical or scientific contexts to ask if something provides a positive advantage.

is it adequate

Inquires if something meets the minimum requirements for a specific purpose.

is it superior

Asks for a comparative evaluation against other options.

is it valid

Focuses on the logical or legal soundness of an idea or policy.

FAQs

How to use "is it good" in a sentence?

You can use it as a direct question to ask for an opinion, such as: "I just read the new report; is it good?" or as part of a longer inquiry like "is it good for the long-term health of the company?"

What can I say instead of "is it good"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/is+it+effective" target="_blank" rel="alternative">is it effective", "<a href="/s/is+it+worthwhile" target="_blank" rel="alternative">is it worthwhile", or "<a href="/s/is+it+satisfactory" target="_blank" rel="alternative">is it satisfactory".

Which is correct, "is it good" or "is it well"?

In most cases, "is it good" is the correct choice because 'good' is an adjective describing the subject 'it'. You would use "<a href="/s/is+it+well" target="_blank" rel="alternative">is it well" only if you are referring to the health or physical state of a living being or a very specific adverbial condition.

What is the difference between "is it good" and "is it any good"?

While they are largely interchangeable, "<a href="/s/is+it+any+good" target="_blank" rel="alternative">is it any good" often carries a slightly more informal tone or suggests a degree of doubt or skepticism from the speaker.