Is it bad English to substitute the word 'says' with 'goes'?
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In the Midwest, I notice that some people substitute the word 'says' with 'goes' and this has always bothered me. For example, I will hear someone say something such as "So my mother goes, "you should drink water instead of soda."" instead of "So my mother says, "you should drink water instead of soda."".
Is this simply bad English?
word-choice word-usage american-english
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up vote
2
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In the Midwest, I notice that some people substitute the word 'says' with 'goes' and this has always bothered me. For example, I will hear someone say something such as "So my mother goes, "you should drink water instead of soda."" instead of "So my mother says, "you should drink water instead of soda."".
Is this simply bad English?
word-choice word-usage american-english
1
Similarly almost every English speaking youth on planet earth is like "And I was like "xyz", and he was like "bla-bla-bla", and then I was like "blo-blo-blo". - The question is, what register of language are you speaking about? In a written piece of text such a newspaper article, an official report, a polite letter to your grandparents you would not use those very casual, oral expressions. If you are writing drama and you want to show youngster in their ordinary attitude, you would write it.
– Christian Geiselmann
Oct 8 at 11:44
1
@ ChristianGeiselmann, I hear this mostly in casual dialog between friends or family.
– user316689
Oct 8 at 11:49
2
@ChristianGeiselmann I question your implication that politeness be associated with letters to grandparents. You have an ageless, idealised image of the species. What age are we living in? I am a grandparent, and my grandchildren do not write me letters but send texts and emails. And the idea that they would be more "polite" with me than with anyone else, to the extent of not saying "My mum, she goes..." is laughable.
– WS2
Oct 8 at 12:33
2
It is not something I'd put into a college essay or a job questionnaire, but it is certainly English, and it does say something comprehensible in a way suited to expressing an attitude and a milieu. I certainly would not characterize it as bad, just informal.
– Robusto
Oct 8 at 13:00
2
Note that 'goes' is followed by an imitation/impression of the speaker -- there is more going on than just 'saying'.
– AmI
Oct 8 at 18:29
|
show 6 more comments
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
In the Midwest, I notice that some people substitute the word 'says' with 'goes' and this has always bothered me. For example, I will hear someone say something such as "So my mother goes, "you should drink water instead of soda."" instead of "So my mother says, "you should drink water instead of soda."".
Is this simply bad English?
word-choice word-usage american-english
In the Midwest, I notice that some people substitute the word 'says' with 'goes' and this has always bothered me. For example, I will hear someone say something such as "So my mother goes, "you should drink water instead of soda."" instead of "So my mother says, "you should drink water instead of soda."".
Is this simply bad English?
word-choice word-usage american-english
word-choice word-usage american-english
asked Oct 8 at 11:38
user316689
1
Similarly almost every English speaking youth on planet earth is like "And I was like "xyz", and he was like "bla-bla-bla", and then I was like "blo-blo-blo". - The question is, what register of language are you speaking about? In a written piece of text such a newspaper article, an official report, a polite letter to your grandparents you would not use those very casual, oral expressions. If you are writing drama and you want to show youngster in their ordinary attitude, you would write it.
– Christian Geiselmann
Oct 8 at 11:44
1
@ ChristianGeiselmann, I hear this mostly in casual dialog between friends or family.
– user316689
Oct 8 at 11:49
2
@ChristianGeiselmann I question your implication that politeness be associated with letters to grandparents. You have an ageless, idealised image of the species. What age are we living in? I am a grandparent, and my grandchildren do not write me letters but send texts and emails. And the idea that they would be more "polite" with me than with anyone else, to the extent of not saying "My mum, she goes..." is laughable.
– WS2
Oct 8 at 12:33
2
It is not something I'd put into a college essay or a job questionnaire, but it is certainly English, and it does say something comprehensible in a way suited to expressing an attitude and a milieu. I certainly would not characterize it as bad, just informal.
– Robusto
Oct 8 at 13:00
2
Note that 'goes' is followed by an imitation/impression of the speaker -- there is more going on than just 'saying'.
– AmI
Oct 8 at 18:29
|
show 6 more comments
1
Similarly almost every English speaking youth on planet earth is like "And I was like "xyz", and he was like "bla-bla-bla", and then I was like "blo-blo-blo". - The question is, what register of language are you speaking about? In a written piece of text such a newspaper article, an official report, a polite letter to your grandparents you would not use those very casual, oral expressions. If you are writing drama and you want to show youngster in their ordinary attitude, you would write it.
– Christian Geiselmann
Oct 8 at 11:44
1
@ ChristianGeiselmann, I hear this mostly in casual dialog between friends or family.
– user316689
Oct 8 at 11:49
2
@ChristianGeiselmann I question your implication that politeness be associated with letters to grandparents. You have an ageless, idealised image of the species. What age are we living in? I am a grandparent, and my grandchildren do not write me letters but send texts and emails. And the idea that they would be more "polite" with me than with anyone else, to the extent of not saying "My mum, she goes..." is laughable.
– WS2
Oct 8 at 12:33
2
It is not something I'd put into a college essay or a job questionnaire, but it is certainly English, and it does say something comprehensible in a way suited to expressing an attitude and a milieu. I certainly would not characterize it as bad, just informal.
– Robusto
Oct 8 at 13:00
2
Note that 'goes' is followed by an imitation/impression of the speaker -- there is more going on than just 'saying'.
– AmI
Oct 8 at 18:29
1
1
Similarly almost every English speaking youth on planet earth is like "And I was like "xyz", and he was like "bla-bla-bla", and then I was like "blo-blo-blo". - The question is, what register of language are you speaking about? In a written piece of text such a newspaper article, an official report, a polite letter to your grandparents you would not use those very casual, oral expressions. If you are writing drama and you want to show youngster in their ordinary attitude, you would write it.
– Christian Geiselmann
Oct 8 at 11:44
Similarly almost every English speaking youth on planet earth is like "And I was like "xyz", and he was like "bla-bla-bla", and then I was like "blo-blo-blo". - The question is, what register of language are you speaking about? In a written piece of text such a newspaper article, an official report, a polite letter to your grandparents you would not use those very casual, oral expressions. If you are writing drama and you want to show youngster in their ordinary attitude, you would write it.
– Christian Geiselmann
Oct 8 at 11:44
1
1
@ ChristianGeiselmann, I hear this mostly in casual dialog between friends or family.
– user316689
Oct 8 at 11:49
@ ChristianGeiselmann, I hear this mostly in casual dialog between friends or family.
– user316689
Oct 8 at 11:49
2
2
@ChristianGeiselmann I question your implication that politeness be associated with letters to grandparents. You have an ageless, idealised image of the species. What age are we living in? I am a grandparent, and my grandchildren do not write me letters but send texts and emails. And the idea that they would be more "polite" with me than with anyone else, to the extent of not saying "My mum, she goes..." is laughable.
– WS2
Oct 8 at 12:33
@ChristianGeiselmann I question your implication that politeness be associated with letters to grandparents. You have an ageless, idealised image of the species. What age are we living in? I am a grandparent, and my grandchildren do not write me letters but send texts and emails. And the idea that they would be more "polite" with me than with anyone else, to the extent of not saying "My mum, she goes..." is laughable.
– WS2
Oct 8 at 12:33
2
2
It is not something I'd put into a college essay or a job questionnaire, but it is certainly English, and it does say something comprehensible in a way suited to expressing an attitude and a milieu. I certainly would not characterize it as bad, just informal.
– Robusto
Oct 8 at 13:00
It is not something I'd put into a college essay or a job questionnaire, but it is certainly English, and it does say something comprehensible in a way suited to expressing an attitude and a milieu. I certainly would not characterize it as bad, just informal.
– Robusto
Oct 8 at 13:00
2
2
Note that 'goes' is followed by an imitation/impression of the speaker -- there is more going on than just 'saying'.
– AmI
Oct 8 at 18:29
Note that 'goes' is followed by an imitation/impression of the speaker -- there is more going on than just 'saying'.
– AmI
Oct 8 at 18:29
|
show 6 more comments
1 Answer
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It depends how you define 'bad'. Languages evolve, and as Janus Bahs Jacquet mentioned in comments "Pop! Says the weasel" doesn't have the right ring to it.
Where you are talking about someone/something expressing a noise (speech, sound, etc), then 'goes' has a similar understood meaning to says (perhaps not a fomal OED definition.
It also depends on the sentence. 'James goes to the shops' is obviously correct vs 'James says to the shops'. So you cannot apply a general rule that 'goes' is a bad/incorrect word to use it.
If bad referes to formality, then using 'goes' is certinaly not correct in the formal sense of the English language.
However, in the example you gave, regardless of which you use, the meaning and intent of the statement is the same. As such it could be considered interchangeable dependant on the formality you are trying to convey or your familiarity with the other party(s) in the conversation.
answered Nov 15 at 10:06
TheShade
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
It depends how you define 'bad'. Languages evolve, and as Janus Bahs Jacquet mentioned in comments "Pop! Says the weasel" doesn't have the right ring to it.
Where you are talking about someone/something expressing a noise (speech, sound, etc), then 'goes' has a similar understood meaning to says (perhaps not a fomal OED definition.
It also depends on the sentence. 'James goes to the shops' is obviously correct vs 'James says to the shops'. So you cannot apply a general rule that 'goes' is a bad/incorrect word to use it.
If bad referes to formality, then using 'goes' is certinaly not correct in the formal sense of the English language.
However, in the example you gave, regardless of which you use, the meaning and intent of the statement is the same. As such it could be considered interchangeable dependant on the formality you are trying to convey or your familiarity with the other party(s) in the conversation.
answered Nov 15 at 10:06
TheShade
442
New contributor
TheShade is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
It depends how you define 'bad'. Languages evolve, and as Janus Bahs Jacquet mentioned in comments "Pop! Says the weasel" doesn't have the right ring to it.
Where you are talking about someone/something expressing a noise (speech, sound, etc), then 'goes' has a similar understood meaning to says (perhaps not a fomal OED definition.
It also depends on the sentence. 'James goes to the shops' is obviously correct vs 'James says to the shops'. So you cannot apply a general rule that 'goes' is a bad/incorrect word to use it.
If bad referes to formality, then using 'goes' is certinaly not correct in the formal sense of the English language.
However, in the example you gave, regardless of which you use, the meaning and intent of the statement is the same. As such it could be considered interchangeable dependant on the formality you are trying to convey or your familiarity with the other party(s) in the conversation.
answered Nov 15 at 10:06
TheShade
442
New contributor
TheShade is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
It depends how you define 'bad'. Languages evolve, and as Janus Bahs Jacquet mentioned in comments "Pop! Says the weasel" doesn't have the right ring to it.
Where you are talking about someone/something expressing a noise (speech, sound, etc), then 'goes' has a similar understood meaning to says (perhaps not a fomal OED definition.
It also depends on the sentence. 'James goes to the shops' is obviously correct vs 'James says to the shops'. So you cannot apply a general rule that 'goes' is a bad/incorrect word to use it.
If bad referes to formality, then using 'goes' is certinaly not correct in the formal sense of the English language.
However, in the example you gave, regardless of which you use, the meaning and intent of the statement is the same. As such it could be considered interchangeable dependant on the formality you are trying to convey or your familiarity with the other party(s) in the conversation.
answered Nov 15 at 10:06
TheShade
442
New contributor
TheShade is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
It depends how you define 'bad'. Languages evolve, and as Janus Bahs Jacquet mentioned in comments "Pop! Says the weasel" doesn't have the right ring to it.
Where you are talking about someone/something expressing a noise (speech, sound, etc), then 'goes' has a similar understood meaning to says (perhaps not a fomal OED definition.
It also depends on the sentence. 'James goes to the shops' is obviously correct vs 'James says to the shops'. So you cannot apply a general rule that 'goes' is a bad/incorrect word to use it.
If bad referes to formality, then using 'goes' is certinaly not correct in the formal sense of the English language.
However, in the example you gave, regardless of which you use, the meaning and intent of the statement is the same. As such it could be considered interchangeable dependant on the formality you are trying to convey or your familiarity with the other party(s) in the conversation.
answered Nov 15 at 10:06
TheShade
442
New contributor
TheShade is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Nov 15 at 10:06
TheShade
442
New contributor
TheShade is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered Nov 15 at 10:06
TheShade
442
answered Nov 15 at 10:06
TheShade
442
442
New contributor
TheShade is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
TheShade is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
TheShade is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
Similarly almost every English speaking youth on planet earth is like "And I was like "xyz", and he was like "bla-bla-bla", and then I was like "blo-blo-blo". - The question is, what register of language are you speaking about? In a written piece of text such a newspaper article, an official report, a polite letter to your grandparents you would not use those very casual, oral expressions. If you are writing drama and you want to show youngster in their ordinary attitude, you would write it.
– Christian Geiselmann
Oct 8 at 11:44
1
@ ChristianGeiselmann, I hear this mostly in casual dialog between friends or family.
– user316689
Oct 8 at 11:49
2
@ChristianGeiselmann I question your implication that politeness be associated with letters to grandparents. You have an ageless, idealised image of the species. What age are we living in? I am a grandparent, and my grandchildren do not write me letters but send texts and emails. And the idea that they would be more "polite" with me than with anyone else, to the extent of not saying "My mum, she goes..." is laughable.
– WS2
Oct 8 at 12:33
2
It is not something I'd put into a college essay or a job questionnaire, but it is certainly English, and it does say something comprehensible in a way suited to expressing an attitude and a milieu. I certainly would not characterize it as bad, just informal.
– Robusto
Oct 8 at 13:00
2
Note that 'goes' is followed by an imitation/impression of the speaker -- there is more going on than just 'saying'.
– AmI
Oct 8 at 18:29