once for good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "once for good" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when you finally want to do something and be done with it. For example, "This crime must be punished once for good to ensure the safety of the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Now retirement meant being unable to walk better than Quasimodo, and feeling as if I'd been jumped by the Oakland Raiders twice, once for good measure.

The New York Times

Discovered in the wreck of a British ship off the coast of Holland in 1859, Lloyd's of London's Lutine Bell was traditionally rung once for good news and twice for bad – when an insured vessel failed to turn up at its port of call.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The speed-sensitive windshield wipers flailed spastically at low speeds, then seemed drugged when I speeded up, and the once-for-good-measure sweep after the wash came whether the car was stopped or had accelerated to highway speed.

The New York Times

She de-friended him once again, for good.

The New York Times

Then they prick them once more for good measure.

The New York Times - Books

And we never want to do that". Once more, for good measure, Eaton aims to play the whole season and push himself like he always has.

The Washington Post

The objective was to show the laid-back characteristics of the Brazilian people," it parped, stereotyping the locals once more for good measure.

The Guardian - Sport

And so she said once more, for good measure, in her victory speech after besting her challenger, Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, for the Democratic nomination in a runoff on Tuesday by four points.

The New York Times

(Whatever for?) It has "intelligent" windshield washing: after a delay, the wipers sweep the windshield once more for good measure if the car is moving less than 12 m.p.h.

The New York Times

C1 Shift in Airline Jobs Low-fare airlines are thriving partly because they have avoided the path of the traditional airlines, which were once known for good pay, generous benefits and strong unions.

The New York Times

When you are sure that your outline is complete and you are happy with it, go back and check once more for good logical order and parallel construction.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "once for good" when you want to emphasize the finality of an action, ensuring there will be no need to revisit or repeat it.

Common error

Avoid using "once for good" in formal writing; opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "definitively" or "irrevocably" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "once for good" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate that an action is completed in a final, definitive manner. Ludwig examples illustrate this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "once for good" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to emphasize the finality of an action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides real-world examples primarily from news and media sources. While effective in conveying decisiveness, it is best suited for informal or neutral contexts, with more formal alternatives available for professional writing. Remember to use it when you want to highlight that something is done definitively and to avoid overuse in academic or business settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

once and for all

This alternative emphasizes finality and decisiveness even more strongly.

for good

This shorter version implies permanence but may lack the emphasis of the original phrase.

permanently

This single word expresses the idea of lasting indefinitely.

definitively

This adverb suggests a conclusive action or decision.

conclusively

Similar to 'definitively', this implies a resolution that ends debate or uncertainty.

finally and irrevocably

Adds a stronger sense of no return or change possible.

for the last time

Focuses on the action happening at the end of a sequence.

in a lasting manner

This is a more formal alternative emphasizing the enduring nature of the action.

irrevocably

Highlights the inability to undo or reverse the action.

from now on

Implies a change in behavior or situation that will continue into the future.

FAQs

How can I use "once for good" in a sentence?

You can use "once for good" to emphasize the finality of an action, as in, "This issue needs to be resolved "once for good" to prevent future problems."

What phrases are similar to "once for good"?

Alternatives to "once for good" include "once and for all", "for good", or "permanently", each conveying a sense of finality depending on the context.

Is "once for good" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "once for good" is generally better suited for informal contexts. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "definitively" or "irrevocably".

What's the difference between "once for good" and "for good"?

The phrase ""once for good"" adds more emphasis on the action being final and decisive, whereas ""for good"" simply implies permanence.