would to god

USAGE SUMMARY

"would to god" is not a correct part of a sentence in standard written English.
Instead, you would say "I wish (to/that) God (would)." For example, "I wish to God that I had more money."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"Would to God I had never opened your loathsome missive or any of the others!" H. P. Lovecraft writes a love-advice column.

The New Yorker

"I had so many severe trials & Sore troubles but would to God that I could live all my troubles over and have them aggravated to the full of human imagination if it would recall the life of my brother.

The New York Times

Would to God that were true!"In the argument over the usefulness of the bombing campaign Goebbels sided with Arthur Bomber Harrisis, thinking it was horrifically effective in damaging German morale and war production.

The Economist

In a poignant moment, Beethoven is visited by young Franz Schubert, who makes hapless efforts at chitchat ("Would to God I could give you my unneeded fat!") and nervously asks after the Master's opinion of his songs.

The New Yorker

Adams said to him, "I would to God there were more ambition in the country". And then he paused and said, "by that I mean ambition of the laudable kind, ambition to excel". Not ambition to get rich or famous or powerful but to excel.

Harvard Business Review

Would to God they had been so formed.

University of Chicago

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"I would pray to God that the wind would not take away our home," she said, shaking her head.

The New York Times

If Pammy got her caught out in the rain she would honest to God tear Pammy a new one.

The New Yorker

Because what Fry was asked was what he would say to God if he met him face to face.

The Guardian - Opinion

One caregiver talked about how she would pray to God to "instill everything in that doctor" to provide good care.

Cancer Medicine

From then on, I had an overwhelming sense that if I would allow Him to, God would play a big role in my career...

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In contemporary English, replace "would to god" with "I wish to God" or "I wish that God would" for grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "would to god" in modern writing, as it is considered archaic and grammatically incorrect. Opt for more common and understandable alternatives such as "I wish to God".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would to god" functions as an interjection or exclamation, expressing a strong wish or desire. However, it's important to note that this phrase is considered archaic and grammatically incorrect in modern English. As Ludwig AI points out, more appropriate alternatives exist.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "would to god" appears in older texts, it is now considered grammatically incorrect and archaic in modern English. Ludwig AI suggests using alternatives such as "I wish to God" or "I wish that God would" to express similar sentiments with greater clarity and grammatical correctness. Although examples exist across various sources, predominantly in News & Media, Science and Academia, adopting more contemporary phrasing is recommended for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I wish to God

More common and grammatically sound way to express a strong wish.

I wish that God would

Expresses a desire for God to intervene or take action.

If only God would

Highlights a longing for divine intervention.

God grant that

More formal and traditional way to express a hope.

May God grant

Expresses a hope or prayer for divine favor or intervention.

I fervently hope

Expresses a strong and earnest desire.

I deeply desire

Emphasizes the intensity of the wish.

Oh, that God would

Expresses a wistful desire for divine action.

I long for

Highlights a deep yearning or desire.

I yearn for

Conveys a strong and persistent longing.

FAQs

What does "would to god" mean?

The phrase "would to god" is an archaic expression of wishing or hoping for something, similar to saying "I wish to God" or "I hope to God".

Is "would to god" grammatically correct?

In modern English, "would to god" is considered grammatically incorrect. It's better to use phrases like "I wish to God" or "I wish that God would".

What can I say instead of "would to god"?

You can use alternatives like "I wish to God", "I hope to God", or "If only God would" depending on the context.

How can I use the phrase "I wish to God" in a sentence?

You can use "I wish to God" to express a strong desire or hope, such as "I wish to God this nightmare would end".