Figuring out whether to say “I am doing good” or “I am doing well” is one of the most common stumbling blocks in English. It happens to native speakers and learners alike. The confusion starts because both words have similar meanings, but they play very different roles in a sentence. Mixing them up can change the grammatical structure of what you are saying, even if people still understand you.
The fast answer lies in knowing the difference between an adjective and an adverb. Once you spot which word they describe, the choice becomes clear. This guide breaks down exactly how to pick the right one every time.
⚡ The Golden Rule: Good vs. Well
Good is an Adjective. It describes people, places, or things (Nouns).
Example: “This is a good movie.”
Well is usually an Adverb. It describes actions (Verbs).
Example: “The team played well.”
Exception: When talking about health, “Well” acts as an adjective (meaning “healthy”).
Table of Contents
When to Use “Good” (The Adjective)
You should use “Good” when you are giving details about a noun. A noun is a person, place, or thing. In grammar terms, this makes “good” an adjective. It modifies the subject of your sentence, not the action the subject is doing.
Think of it as describing the quality or state of something. If you can replace the word with “nice,” “excellent,” or “high-quality,” you definitely want to use Good. It answers the question: “What kind is it?” Source-1✅
- He is a good writer. (Describes the writer, who is a person.)
- Have a good day. (Describes the day, which is a thing.)
- The pizza tastes good. (Describes the pizza.)
When to Use “Well” (The Adverb)
Use “Well” when you need to describe an action. Since it is an adverb, it modifies verbs. It tells us how something was done. If you are talking about a skill, a performance, or an activity, this is the word you need.
Ask yourself: “How did the action happen?” If the answer describes the method or the quality of the action, stick with Well.
- She swims well. (Describes how she swims.)
- The project is going well. (Describes the progress of the project.)
- Did you sleep well? (Describes the action of sleeping.)
The Tricky Exception: Talking About Health
Here is where English gets confusing. “Well” can also act as an adjective, but only when it refers to physical health. This is why “I am well” is a correct sentence.
“I am Good”
This usually refers to your emotional state or general happiness. It is very common in casual American English.
Meaning: I am happy, I am fine, everything is okay.
“I am Well”
This refers to your physical health or lack of illness. It is the strictly formal choice.
Meaning: I am healthy, I am not sick.
The “Sense” Verbs Rule (Look, Smell, Taste)
Verbs related to the five senses (look, smell, taste, feel, sound) are called linking verbs. They don’t describe an action you are actively doing; they connect the subject to a description. With linking verbs, you generally use Good (the adjective).
Why? Because you are describing the subject, not the action of the verb. Source-2✅
However, if you use these verbs actively to perform an action, you switch back to Well.
- The dog smells well. (This means the dog has a powerful nose and is good at sniffing.)
Quick Comparison Chart
| Word | Part of Speech | Function | Key Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Adjective | Modifies a Noun | Good job, Good food, Good idea |
| Well | Adverb | Modifies a Verb | Run well, Speak well, Listen well |
| Well | Adjective (Special) | Describes Health | I feel well (not sick) |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are real-world examples showing how people often misuse these words, corrected for clarity.
- Mistake 1: Sports and Performance
- Wrong “I played good in the game yesterday.”
- Correct “I played well in the game yesterday.”
- (Playing is an action, so use the adverb “well”.)
- Mistake 2: School and Work
- Wrong “She did good on the test.”
- Correct “She did well on the test.”
- (Use “well” to describe how she performed.)
- Mistake 3: Feelings
- Wrong “I don’t feel good.” (Ambiguous)
- Correct “I don’t feel well.”
- (If you are sick, “well” is the precise choice.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it ever correct to say “I am doing good”?
Grammatically, standard English prefers “I am doing well.” However, “I am doing good” has become extremely common in informal, spoken American English to mean “I am fine.” Just avoid using it in formal writing or business emails.
Why do people say “It looks good”?
This is correct! “Look” is a linking verb in this context. It connects the subject (It) to the adjective (Good). You are describing the appearance of the object, not the action of looking.
Can “well” describe a noun?
Does “Goodly” exist?
It is an archaic (very old) word meaning “considerable” or “sizable” (e.g., “a goodly sum of money”), but it is almost never used in modern English to replace “well.”