Good vs Well
Good and well have similar meanings, so they might seem like synonyms, but they are not. Good and well are different parts of speech and serve different functions in a sentence. What are the main differences between these two words?
Good
Good is an adjective (describes a noun), and its job in a sentence is to describe a noun. Good means “nice” or “of high quality,” and we use it when talking about quality, moral value, or performance.
The movie is of good quality or I like the movie.
He is a good person.
She has a good skill at problem-solving.
Well
Well as an Adverb
Well is an adverb (describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb), and we use it to talk about how well something is done. Well means “in a good way” or “effectively.”
She sings in a good way.
He runs effectively or skillfully.
You did a good job on your project.
Well as an Adjective
Well can also be an adjective, but it has a different meaning in this case. It refers to health or feeling good physically.
The patient is healthy now.
I feel healthy again.
Comparing Good and Well
Good and well have different forms in the comparative and superlative degrees, although their base forms are different.
well – better – best
Her sister dances better than she does, and their cousin is the best.
He plays well, but his teammate is better, and the coach is the best.
Remember that “good” describes a noun, while “well” describes how something is done (a verb or adverb). Also, “well” can be an adjective when talking about health.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
“I’m good” is a common phrase, but it’s often used in a way that’s incorrect in formal contexts.
