went to go

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'went to go' is not correct in written English.
Instead, you could use the phrase 'went to' or 'went' to convey the same meaning. For example, "He went to the store to buy some groceries." or "He went to go get some groceries." can both be written as "He went to get some groceries."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"The Interahamwe went to go see," he said.

The New Yorker

I went to go eat dinner by myself.

The New York Times

And I went to go get my mail.

The New York Times

But when Edward went to go investigate, Hilary held him back, saying that he mustn't go.

The New Yorker

"I went to go play basketball, it was like right there.

The New York Times

"I went to go get treatment and I started freezing in there.

The New York Times - Sports

"He went to go show his boss, and then they took my phone away".

The New York Times

On Wednesday everything snapped into focus when Nick Clegg went to Go Ape.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

I'm going to go.

The New Yorker

I'm going to go to court.

The New Yorker

"You're going to go to prison".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing movement or intention to move, use the simpler forms "went" or "went to" for clarity and grammatical correctness. For example, instead of "I went to go get groceries", say "I went to get groceries".

Common error

Do not use "went to go" together, as it's a redundant construction. The word "went" already implies movement, so adding "to go" is unnecessary and weakens your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "went to go" functions as a verb phrase indicating movement or the initiation of an action. However, it's grammatically redundant. Ludwig AI notes that the phrase is not correct in written English and suggests alternatives like "went to" or "went".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "went to go" is a common expression used to describe the act of moving towards a specific location or action. However, Ludwig AI emphasizes that it is grammatically incorrect due to its redundant nature. While frequently found in informal contexts, especially in News & Media, it is advisable to use the simpler and more grammatically sound alternatives like "went" or "went to" in formal writing. Understanding this distinction helps maintain clarity and precision in your writing, ensuring a more professional tone. Avoiding the redundancy present in "went to go" strengthens your communication, making it more effective and impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

went

This is the simplest and most grammatically sound alternative, omitting the unnecessary "to go".

went to

This option correctly uses "went to" followed by a verb to indicate the purpose of going somewhere.

headed to

This suggests a direction or destination was set and initiates a move in that direction.

made way to

This implies movement toward a specific location, usually overcoming some obstacle.

set off to

This suggests the beginning of a journey or a trip toward something.

departed for

This indicates a formal or definitive leaving for a destination.

left for

This suggests a simple departure toward a destination.

journeyed to

This implies a longer or more significant trip.

travelled to

This is similar to journeyed, but can imply business or pleasure in the travel.

moved toward

This indicates a change of location in a specific direction.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "went to go" in a sentence?

You can correct "went to go" by simplifying it to either "went" or "went to" depending on the context. For instance, "I went to go see a movie" becomes "I "went to see" a movie" or "I "went see" a movie".

What's wrong with using the phrase "went to go"?

The phrase "went to go" is considered redundant because "went" already implies the action of going. Using "to go" after "went" is unnecessary and makes the sentence less clear.

Are there situations where "went to go" is acceptable?

While "went to go" is frequently used in spoken language, it's generally not considered acceptable in formal writing. It's better to use more concise and grammatically correct alternatives like "went to" or "went".

What are some alternatives to "went to go" that sound more professional?

For more professional alternatives, you can use phrases like "headed to", "departed for", or simply "went". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.