worked so good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worked so good" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form is "worked so well." Example: "The new software update worked so well that it improved the system's performance significantly."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

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

The New Yorker

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

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

The New York Times - Sports

"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

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

He said in August that solar, the fastest-growing source of energy, "has a lot of problems" and is "not working so good".

Huffington Post

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

Become friends with her first, get to know her! It's better to be in the friendzone then no zone at all! Wink at her! It's cheesy but it works so good!

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the adverb "well" instead of the adjective "good" when describing how something functions or performs. For example, say "It "worked so well"" rather than "It "worked so good"".

Common error

The word "good" is an adjective, modifying nouns, while "well" is an adverb, modifying verbs. Avoid saying something "worked good", as "good" cannot describe how something "worked". Instead, use "well" to correctly describe the manner of working.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worked so good" attempts to function as an adverbial modifier, describing the manner in which something "worked". However, it uses the adjective "good" instead of the adverb "well". Ludwig AI identifies this as grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "worked so good" is grammatically incorrect, as it uses the adjective "good" instead of the adverb "well". The correct form is ""worked so well"". While Ludwig identifies its presence in some news and media outlets, it's advisable to use ""worked so well"" or other alternatives like "functioned effectively" in both formal and informal contexts to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity. Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as grammatically incorrect and recommends using the adverb "well" instead of the adjective "good" to modify the verb.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

worked so well

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

functioned effectively

Emphasizes the effective operation or performance of something.

operated successfully

Highlights the successful operation or execution of a task or process.

performed admirably

Stresses the admirable quality of the performance.

yielded excellent results

Focuses on the positive outcomes produced.

proved highly effective

Emphasizes the proven effectiveness of something.

turned out perfectly

Highlights a flawless result or outcome.

achieved great success

Focuses on the attainment of success through effort or action.

ran smoothly

Emphasizes the smooth and unhindered operation of something.

served its purpose well

Focuses on the adequacy and effectiveness of fulfilling a specific purpose.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say something functioned effectively?

Instead of the incorrect "worked so good", the correct phrase is ""worked so well"". Use "well", an adverb, to modify the verb "worked".

What can I say instead of "worked so good" in a business context?

In formal settings, use alternatives like "functioned effectively" or "operated successfully" to maintain a professional tone.

Is "worked so good" ever grammatically correct?

No, "worked so good" is not grammatically correct in standard English. "Good" is an adjective, while "well" is the adverb needed to modify the verb "worked".

How can I remember to use "well" instead of "good" after a verb?

Think of adverbs (like "well") as words that add detail to verbs (actions). If you're describing how something is done, "well" is typically the right choice. For instance, "He sings "sings well"", not "He sings good".