work so good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "work so good" is not correct in standard written English; it should be "work so well." You can use it in informal contexts, but it's better to use the correct form in formal writing.
Example: "I hope this new software will work so well that it improves our productivity."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Tonight when he was out of the game, it didn't work so good".

The New York Times - Sports

Very interesting, I'm a fan of Clear's work so good to see it being used some more.

Cornell University

Sure enough, a couple of days later he e-mailed me an Aerospace Daily report in which Air Force Secretary James Roche conceded to some defense reporters that Predator "doesn't work so good" at guiding bomber pilots to targets without added help from spotters on the ground.

The New York Times - Magazine

It didn't work so good together, but I brought her magazines to read while he was doing 20 takes.

Los Angeles Times

Tony said that when you peel back the layers of everything going on in their lives, the reason they work so good as a couple is that they are simply best friends.

Huffington Post

Hopefully, these tricks and tips will work, so good luck, and have fun!

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Everything was kind of gloomy and nothing really worked so good, paintings and life and the money.

The New Yorker

"They say there's possibilities, that the pump works so good, I could maybe live another 20 years if the rest of my body holds up".

The New York Times - Science

"People want the children to [have as much] fun as possible, but I don't know in the end if it's working so good.

The Guardian

This time, well... it may not have worked so good.

Vice

Because this strategy worked so good for Clinton herself in the primaries.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "well" instead of "good" when modifying a verb. "Good" is an adjective, while "well" is an adverb. For example, say "The program works so well" instead of "The program works so good".

Common error

A frequent mistake is using the adjective "good" to modify a verb. Remember that adverbs like "well" describe how an action is performed. Avoid saying something "works good"; instead, say it "works well" to ensure grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work so good" functions as a predicate in a sentence, attempting to describe the quality or effectiveness of an action. However, due to grammatical incorrectness, it fails to properly fulfill this function. Ludwig AI points out the grammatical error.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "work so good" is occasionally used and generally understood, it is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "work so well". Ludwig AI identifies the grammatical error, noting that "good" is an adjective, whereas "well" is an adverb and should be used to modify the verb "work". Despite its presence in some news and media sources, this phrasing is more appropriate for informal contexts and should be avoided in formal writing. Alternatives such as "function effectively" or "operate efficiently" offer grammatically sound ways to express the same idea.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

work so well

Replaces the grammatically incorrect "good" with the correct adverb "well".

function effectively

Substitutes "work" with "function" and replaces "so good" with "effectively" for a more formal tone.

operate efficiently

Uses "operate" instead of "work" and "efficiently" in place of "so good" to emphasize speed and minimal waste.

perform admirably

Replaces "work" with "perform" and "so good" with "admirably" to highlight praiseworthy execution.

execute flawlessly

Emphasizes the absence of errors in the execution, providing a stronger sense of perfection.

be highly effective

Focuses on the degree of effectiveness, conveying a sense of significant positive impact.

yield excellent results

Shifts focus to the outcomes produced, highlighting the quality of the results.

prove highly successful

Emphasizes the success achieved, indicating a positive and favorable outcome.

excel considerably

Highlights exceptional performance, suggesting a marked degree of superiority.

shine brightly

Uses a metaphorical expression to suggest exceptional quality or performance that stands out.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "work so good"?

No, the grammatically correct phrasing is "work so well". "Good" is an adjective, while "well" is an adverb and should be used to modify the verb "work".

When should I use "good" versus "well"?

"Good" is an adjective that describes a noun (e.g., "a good book"). "Well" is an adverb that describes a verb (e.g., "He sings well"). Therefore, use "good" to describe something and "well" to describe how something is done.

What are some alternatives to saying something "works so good"?

Instead of "works so good", you can say it "functions effectively", "operates efficiently", or "performs admirably".

How can I remember the difference between "good" and "well"?

A helpful trick is to remember that "well" is often associated with actions or verbs. If you're describing how something is done, "well" is generally the correct choice. If you're describing the quality of something, use "good".