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Thread: "You did good" - should this annoy me?!?

  1. #1
    waflob is offline Member
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    Default "You did good" - should this annoy me?!?

    Hi all Maybe it's just me, but I get the impression that lately, I've been seeing "You did good" (or even worse "You done good") in films and it always make me cringe. Surely it should be "You did well". I've heard it so many times, I'm starting to wonder. Ignoring the philosophical question of 'if everyone uses something incorrectly, is it still incorrect?', would some kind soul either confirm my understanding, or explain why "You did good" is acceptable? Many thanks ps - any ideas how to stop the white space being removed?
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  2. #2
    Rover_KE is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: "You did good" - should this annoy me?!?

    We can't tell you how to feel about it, waflob.

    It's non-standard English, but widely used and - what matters most to the majority of people - universally understood.

    I got over my annoyance years ago, as life's too short to try to turn back the tide of language evolution among native speakers who have no interest in grammar and syntax. Far worse solecisms are perpetrated daily - chiefly among the young.

    As educators, we can only advise seekers of the truth when they ask what the 'correct' expression might be.

    Rover
    Last edited by Rover_KE; 29-Sep-2011 at 08:57.

  3. #3
    J&K Tutoring is offline Member
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    Default Re: "You did good" - should this annoy me?!?

    "You did good" - should this annoy me?!?

    Not necessarily. The word good functions most commonly as adverb or adjective, but it can be a noun and be used the same as we might use right.

    The inept superhero did Good; just not very well...

    That said, I do realize that, most of the time, the useage is incorrect, as in some version of, "Ya did good (as in a good job) out there today, kid- I'm proud of ya!"
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  4. #4
    TheParser is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: "You did good" - should this annoy me?!?

    Quote Originally Posted by waflob View Post
    Hi all Maybe it's just me, but I get the impression that lately, I've been seeing "You did good" (or even worse "You done good") in films and it always make me cringe. Surely it should be "You did well". I've heard it so many times, I'm starting to wonder. Ignoring the philosophical question of 'if everyone uses something incorrectly, is it still incorrect?', would some kind soul either confirm my understanding, or explain why "You did good" is acceptable? Many thanks ps - any ideas how to stop the white space being removed?

    ONLY A NON-TEACHER'S OPINION


    I once read something to the effect of:

    Some missionaries went to foreign countries to do good, but they ended

    up doing very well.
    birdeen's call and 5jj like this.

  5. #5
    J&K Tutoring is offline Member
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    Default Re: "You did good" - should this annoy me?!?

    "I once read something to the effect of:

    Some missionaries went to foreign countries to do good, but they ended
    up doing very well.
    "


    I thought it was Some missionaries went to the cannibal tribes to do good, but they ended up well done...
    TheParser, ~Mav~ and 5jj like this.

  6. #6
    SoothingDave is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: "You did good" - should this annoy me?!?

    "You done good" is also heard, if you want to get really annoyed.
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  7. #7
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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    Default Re: "You did good" - should this annoy me?!?

    Quote Originally Posted by waflob View Post
    Many thanks ps - any ideas how to stop the white space being removed?
    How are you writing your messages?

  8. #8
    waflob is offline Member
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    Default Re: "You did good" - should this annoy me?!?

    Via the reply button, but I think it's sorted - I needed to allow scripts to run and now it appears as I see it.

    Thanks anyway.

  9. #9
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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    Default Re: "You did good" - should this annoy me?!?

    If you do have any more technical questions, there's a section here that will attract the attention of the webmaster:
    Support Area - UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum

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