wish to go

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wish to go" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a desire or intention to leave or travel to a specific place. Example: "I wish to go to the concert this weekend, as it features my favorite band."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They wish to go beyond what was".

The New York Times - Books

Few among us wish to go backward.

The New York Times

Few persons would wish to go so far.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And I wish to go on hurting you…" he coos.

The New Yorker

You wish to go where she is going.

The New York Times - Books

The collector, like Lan, did not wish to go public.

The New Yorker

"You're going further than I wish to go," she said.

The New York Times

I'm extremely tired, and I wish to go to sleep.

The Guardian - Books

Timothy doesn't wish to go to his parents' house on his birthday.

The New Yorker

Men who did not wish to go to the front prepared cobblestones for others.

The Economist

Those who wish to go from one island to the other find it easiest to fly.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing a formal request or intention, "wish to go" is suitable. For less formal contexts, consider using "want to go" or "would like to go".

Common error

Avoid using "wish to go" in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "want to go" or "feel like going" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wish to go" functions as an infinitive phrase, where "wish" is the main verb expressing a desire or intention, and "to go" specifies the action the subject desires to perform. As Ludwig AI shows, this construction appears across various contexts, indicating its versatility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Wiki

17%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "wish to go" is a grammatically sound and versatile infinitive phrase used to express a desire or intention to travel or leave. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is most frequently found in news and media, but also appears in academic, wiki, and business contexts, maintaining a generally neutral register. While appropriate for formal situations, remember that more casual alternatives like "want to go" are often preferred in informal settings. Consider this guidance to avoid sounding overly formal in casual conversation. "Wish to go" can be replaced by alternative phrases such as "desire to travel" or "intend to leave" depending on the nuances you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

desire to travel

Replaces "go" with the more specific "travel", emphasizing the act of traveling.

want to depart

Substitutes "wish" with "want" and "go" with "depart", indicating a desire to leave.

would like to visit

Replaces "wish" with "would like" and "go" with "visit", suggesting a polite request to travel to a place.

intend to leave

Changes "wish" to "intend", implying a firm plan to depart.

plan to travel

Replaces "wish" with "plan", focusing on the planned aspect of traveling.

have a yearning to visit

Uses "yearning" to amplify the desire and "visit" instead of "go", indicating a strong longing.

aspire to journey

Replaces "wish" with "aspire" and "go" with "journey", giving a more formal tone.

long to explore

Expresses a deep desire to explore, replacing "wish" with "long" and "go" with "explore".

dream of traveling

Implies a hopeful desire to travel, using "dream" in place of "wish".

crave to see

Replaces "wish" with "crave", emphasizing a strong desire to see a particular place.

FAQs

What is a more casual alternative to "wish to go"?

In informal settings, you can use phrases like "want to go", "feel like going", or simply "going to go" depending on the context.

How can I use "wish to go" in a formal sentence?

Use "wish to go" when expressing a formal request or intention. For example: "I wish to go to the conference to present my research."

What's the difference between "wish to go" and "want to go"?

"Wish to go" is generally more formal and polite than "want to go", which is more casual. The choice depends on the context and the level of formality required.

Can I use "desire to go" instead of "wish to go"?

Yes, "desire to go" is a more emphatic and formal alternative to "wish to go", expressing a strong feeling of wanting to travel or leave.