not for good

USAGE SUMMARY

'not for good' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something is not permanent. For example, "I moved to a new house, but I'm not staying there for good."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Not for good, anyway.

The New Yorker

No, not for good old Jeff!

The New York Times

(Or, if not for good, then for chaotic neutral).

The New Yorker

If not for good, then at least until next August.

The New York Times

They are not for good, they're for evil.

The New York Times - Magazine

And the "invasion" may not have been stopped, or at least not for good.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

They don't, for good reason.

The Economist

Not, though, for good.

The Guardian - Sport

Not good for doctors, not good for patients, not good for the NHS".

The Guardian

"Not good for New York, not good for America, not good for Pakistan".

The New York Times

Not for any good reason.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger alternatives like "temporarily" or "not permanently" for conciseness when appropriate.

Common error

While "not for good" is acceptable, avoid overuse in formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and concise alternatives like "temporarily" or "not permanently" to maintain clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not for good" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that an action or state is temporary rather than permanent. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not for good" functions as an adverbial phrase used to indicate that something is temporary, rather than permanent. According to Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically correct and is used across various contexts, primarily in news, business, and science-related content. It is advisable to consider more concise or formal alternatives, such as "temporarily" or "not permanently", in academic or professional writing. While the phrase is widely understood, a more precise word may better serve your purpose based on register and situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not permanently

Focuses directly on the lack of permanence; more concise.

not indefinitely

Emphasizes the limited duration, suggesting a known endpoint.

not for the long term

Highlights that something is only intended for a limited duration.

not definitively

Emphasizes the lack of a final or conclusive nature.

temporarily

A single word expressing a non-permanent state, conveying brevity.

not forever

Stresses the absence of endless duration.

for the time being

Indicates the situation is temporary and subject to change.

not as a final measure

Stresses that a specific action is not conclusive.

not in a lasting way

Emphasizes the absence of enduring effects.

not conclusively

Indicates that a decision or result is not yet final or absolute.

FAQs

How can I use "not for good" in a sentence?

The phrase "not for good" indicates that something is temporary and not intended to be permanent. For example, "I'm moving to another city, but "not for good", just for a few years".

What's a simpler way to say "not for good"?

Alternatives to "not for good" include "temporarily", "not permanently", or "for the time being". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it ever wrong to use "not for good"?

While grammatically correct, using "not for good" in highly formal or academic writing might sound less polished than alternatives like "not permanently" or "temporarily".

How does "not for good" compare to "not forever"?

"Not for good" and "not forever" both imply something is temporary, but "not for good" often suggests a return or change is possible, whereas "not forever" simply denies indefinite duration. The nuance depends on context. For example, “He's gone, but hopefully "not for good"" implies a desire for his return, while “This feeling won't last "not forever"” speaks more broadly to the impermanence of emotions.