Good/Well—When to Use Each of Them

“Good” and “well” are two commonly used words in the English language, but they are often misused and confused with each other.

However, using the wrong term can make you sound silly or even unprofessional. This is why it’s time to clear up the good/well confusion and get people to take you seriously.

Whether you are a native English speaker or a non-native speaker learning the language, understanding the proper use of “good” and “well” is essential for effective communication.

“Good” and “well”—What they mean and how to use them

She has a very good teacher.

He used to be a good friend of mine, but now we barely say hi to each other.

In the examples above, the adjective “good” describes the nouns “teacher” and “friend.” The point is that “good” almost always precedes and describes a noun.

Being an adverb means that it modifies a verb which is the word denoting an action in the sentence.

Even though we played well, we still lost the game.

Unfortunately, the project didn’t go well.

In the examples above, “well” modifies the verbs “play” and “go.” The key thing to remember here is that “well” almost always modifies an action or verb.

Good vs. Well

So what’s the difference between “good” and “well”? Although both words have similar meanings, they are different parts of speech. So if you need an adjective to describe something or someone, the chances are you need the word “good.”

And if you need an adverb to modify an action or verb, you probably need “well.” But like any other rule, this one also has an expectation.

Exceptions you need to be aware of

Although the word “well” is commonly used as an adverb, sometimes it’s used as an adjective. This happens when we describe or talk about someone’s health and usually with the verbs “look,” “feel,” and “be.”

How’s your father? He’s not well.

Is your sister well now? I know she had a car accident last Saturday.

Another exception is when we use linking verbs. In most cases, sensory verbs like taste, feel, sound, smell, and appear. Despite being verbs, they don’t go with the adverb “well” but with the adjective “good.”

This pretzel tastes so good.

I can tell you’re cooking because it smells so good.

Last but not least, we use “good” instead of “well” when referring to one’s emotional state.

I feel good about myself.

She didn’t feel good when her mom scolded her in front of everyone.

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