Let’s continue with Word Knots, where we look at common instances of words that are often confused or misused. 

Once again our source for this is installment is The Dictionary of Disagreeable English by Robert Hartwell Fiske (Chicago: Writer’s Digest Books). It’s a great book: Check it out.

Rather than take a stern ‘grammar police’ approach we always try to keep it light and in each installment point out examples of semantic confusion that should be considered “must to avoid.”

From Fiske (excerpted):

good

Solecistic for well.  • He is funny and sings good enough to give us a pleasant performance. USE well.

As Fiske says:

Well may be used as an adjective or an adverb. Good is always an adjective and should never modify a verb.

People who use good where well should be are soulless speakers.

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Let’s look at the most relevant Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary definitions (edited):

good

adjective

1 a  (1) : having a favorable or auspicious character : prosperous, beneficial

       (2) : conveying or reporting what is favorable or fortunate : welcome

2   : a matter or thing of primary importance : a main or most important element

well

noun

1  a : being in good standing or estimation : being on good terms : being in favor 

4     : being in accordance with advantage : deserving to be recommended : advisable, desirable

5  a : being in health : sound in body and mind : free of or recovered from sickness, infirmity, disease, or ailment : healthy

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M-W is a bit too lenient regarding the interchangeability of “good” and “well” in a phrase such as “I feel well” versus “I feel good.” I tend to agree more with Fiske.

Examples of each:

It looks like a good day to take a long drive.

If the traffic isn’t too bad we should do well.

The tulips did well enough that I planted some more.

The tulips along the street look very good.

Once again, word choice is critical, which is why checking your work is an important step toward ensuring that your intended meaning is clear.

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