Use Go or Come

Many people make awkward choices with the words "go" and "come", because it is not always easy to tell when to use one word or the other.

It may be better while you are singing to not make corrections, but it is good for a speaker (including at a podium) to "make it right" and not be careless. Read this article for some suggestions.

Steps

1. Realize that "go there/go here" do not have the same meanings and again neither do "come here/come there". You probably know this, but if not, then understanding this is pretty easy in some situations. You might consider saying:
   • "You can come with me." -- or "I will go with you."
2. Identify the direction of travel. Both of these phrases refer to a person changing between locations.
3. Say, "You and they should come here and come with me." Directed to/toward the speaker's location.
   • "Come in first. Please, come here. Come inside the house, please -- and then we discuss what to do next.", while calling someone "to/toward" the speaker.
     • Thus, if the direction will be to or towards the speaker then the speaker should use "come".
4. Say "Go there, away from, or from me." not toward the speaker. For example you can say:
   • "You could go over there." or "I could go to their house. Should I go pick them up or will you?", when calling a friend about a visit you both have planned and to possibly go to a third person's house to get him or her.
     • The direction is someplace other than either speaker's locations so use the work "go."
   • "Do you think we should go from there to their house to eat or not? Either way we can go to their house. But, we can eat before we go, or when we go to our homes."
     • The current location spoken of is neither the speaker's nor the listener's present location, use "go".
5. Correct yourself instantly without repeating the whole sentence, when you make a mistake. If you do this you will find it easier each subsequent time, example:
   • "I'll come..." "I'll go to their house."
   • If you are interested in correct usage, then plan the wording a little as you speak (or before).
6. Search for some more examples on the internet.
7. Be persistent. Keep thinking about using these words and practicing. It will take time to change your common usage habits; so don't be impatient with yourself if you regress or seem slow to change.
8. Ask for permission which is slightly different.
   • When the speaker is outside and the listener is inside, ask: "May I come into your house to the bathroom?" -- to come toward the listener.
   • When both of you are outside, ask: "May I go inside your house to the bathroom?" -- going away from him/her.

Tips

• Many people use "go here/there" when they should use "come here."
  • Wrong: "Okay, now, go here to me."
  • Right: "Okay, now, come here to me."
• If you want to change, tell yourself so -- and it can happen with some conscious effort at first, and it can become a habit.

Warnings

• People may act and speak like it is unnecessary to speak correctly to make excuses for you, when they really think that you could/should do better.
• Do not try to change another person's word usage. Many people would find that rude. But, you could speak of how you are trying to change your own wording and so you would drop a hint about it.
• Until you want to make the change and try to do so -- consistently for two weeks or more -- it can not become a new habit.

Related Articles

• Use Take With You and Bring With You
• Use Commonly Misused Words
• Use up in Everyday English
• Avoid Colloquial (Informal) Writing

See also

• Avoid Colloquial (Informal) Writing
• Use Generic Pronouns
• Paraphrase a Paragraph
• Be a Grammar Nazi
• Choose Between "I" and "Me" Correctly
• Use Who and Whom
• Improve Your Grammar
• Use "i.e." Versus "e.g."
• Use Italics
• Use "That" and "Which" Correctly

Read more ...