went to order

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "went to order" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey the action of going somewhere to place an order, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "She went to order a coffee at the café down the street."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The waiter muttered something and went to order the steak.

The New Yorker

I bought my programme and went to order a drink.

The Guardian

I remember when I moved from Rotherham to Chester and went to order the Daily Herald and they couldn't understand a word I was saying".

Independent

The first part of his plan went to order: the morning papers were briefed this morning that council tax would be frozen.

The Guardian - Opinion

Another month passed, and a woman hung her pocketbook on a hook on the wall and went to order what turned out to be a most expensive cup of coffee.

The New York Times

"We went to order, and he said, 'I'll have a chocolate soufflé and a cup of milk, and then a steak.' " recalled Ms. Gilbert, who owns a company called Save the Date.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Not going to order a BMW.

The New York Times

Where am I going to order cappuccinos from Paola?

The New York Times - Sports

You know you're going to order the bream.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I'm not going to order the witness not to cry any more than I'm going to order her not to breathe," said US district judge Michael W Fitzgerald.

The Guardian

Hope said, "I'm always going to order something different," but ordered the onion soup.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use more explicit phrasing like "went to place an order" or "was going to order" for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "went to order" as it's grammatically questionable. Instead, use "went to place an order" or "was going to order" to clearly convey your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "went to order" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of going somewhere with the intention of ordering something. Ludwig AI points out that this phrasing isn't correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "went to order" is used to describe the action of going somewhere with the intention of placing an order. However, according to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically incorrect in standard written English and lacks clarity. While it appears in sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, it is more appropriate to use alternatives such as "went to place an order" or "was going to order" for better clarity and grammatical correctness. In short, while understandable, using "went to order" should be avoided in formal contexts to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

went to place an order

Replaces the verb "order" with the more explicit phrase "place an order".

was going to order

Emphasizes a past intention to order that might not have been fulfilled.

went to request

Uses "request" as a synonym for "order", implying a formal request.

went to book

Substitutes "order" with "book", suitable for reservations or appointments.

went to reserve

Similar to "book", but emphasizes the act of reserving something in advance.

decided to order

Focuses on the decision-making aspect before ordering.

intended to order

Highlights the intention to order, whether or not the action was completed.

approached to order

Describes the act of approaching a person or place with the intention of ordering.

went to arrange

Uses "arrange" as an alternative to "order", implying planning or preparation.

moved to order

Describes physically moving to a location in order to place the order.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "went to order"?

More appropriate alternatives include "went to place an order" or "was going to order", which offer greater clarity.

Is "went to order" considered standard English?

No, "went to order" is not typically considered standard English. The phrasing lacks precision. A clearer alternative would be "went to place an order".

Can "went to order" be used in formal writing?

It is advisable to avoid "went to order" in formal writing. Instead, opt for phrases such as "proceeded to order" or "intended to order" for improved professionalism.

How can I rephrase "went to order" to be more descriptive?

To be more descriptive, consider options like "went to request", "went to book", or specifying the item being ordered, such as "went to order coffee".