As a student in an English class, I often paused and asked myself which word to choose—Forgo or Forego. At first glance, their spelling looks nearly identical, and that can confuse even seasoned writers and editors. The meaning of each isn’t the same, even though they sound alike.
Forgo usually means going without something, while Forego points to what came before. That difference may seem deeper than it looks, and once I learned it, my writing began to improve. Using the right term can sharpen your skills, transform how your work is received, and bring clarity to your communication.
In formal or legal documents, the wrong choice can weaken your point and lead to misinterpretation. I once saw this happen in essays, emails, and briefs, where the use of the wrong form left readers unsure. To avoid such pitfalls, I relied on simple tools and memory hints that set the two apart. Historically, the words may overlap, but they aren’t truly interchangeable. To write with ease, remember:
Forgo vs. Forego: The Core Difference
Let’s cut straight to the chase.
- Forgo means to do without, give up, or skip something. Example: I decided to forgo my morning coffee.
- Forego means to go before, to precede. Example: The appetizer will forego the main course.
The problem? Over time, people started mixing them up, and in some cases, style guides blurred the line. But if you’re aiming for clear, professional writing, here’s the difference in one glance:
| Word | Meaning | Example Use | Modern Relevance |
| Forgo | To skip, give up, or abstain from | She chose to forgo the bonus to have more time off. | Common in everyday use |
| Forego | To come before, precede | An introduction will forego the main speech. | Rare, mostly in “foregone conclusion” |
👉 Quick Tip: When you mean give up, choose forgo. When you mean before, choose forego.
The Meaning of Forgo
Forgo is alive and well in modern English. You’ll see it in newspapers, academic writing, and even casual conversations. It carries the sense of giving up something voluntarily, often for practical or moral reasons.
Common contexts include:
- Health and lifestyle: I’ll forgo sugar for a month to reset my diet.
- Financial decisions: He decided to forgo the luxury car in favor of saving money.
- Time management: They chose to forgo a vacation to finish their project.
Real-world examples:
- In a 2023 New York Times article on budgeting, the writer said: “Many Americans are choosing to forgo large purchases due to inflation.”
- A sports columnist wrote: “The team will forgo practice to rest before the big game.”
This makes forgo practical and modern. You’ll use it far more than forego in your daily writing.
The Meaning of Forego
Now let’s turn to forego. This word has a more limited use. Historically, it meant to precede or go before. You won’t see it often in modern English except in set phrases.
Key fact:
The phrase “foregone conclusion” keeps forego alive today. You’ll hear politicians, lawyers, and sports analysts use it to mean something inevitable or already decided.
Example: “With their record, victory was a foregone conclusion.”
Outside of that phrase, forego is rare. If you write “I’ll forego dessert,” most editors would flag it as incorrect—you mean forgo.
Usage Evolution: From Interchangeable to Separate
So why the confusion?
For centuries, forgo and forego were sometimes used interchangeably. Older texts and dictionaries treated them as spelling variants. This overlap grew because spelling wasn’t standardized until the 18th and 19th centuries.
- British English: Historically leaned toward forego more often.
- American English: Settled on forgo for “give up” and forego only for “come before.”
Today, most style guides (Chicago, AP, Merriam-Webster) make a clear distinction:
- Forgo = give up
- Forego = precede
But because of their similar spelling, mix-ups still happen, even in professional writing.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
Here are some frequent errors:
- “He chose to forego dinner to finish his work.”
- “He chose to forgo dinner to finish his work.”
- “It was a forgo conclusion.”
- “It was a foregone conclusion.”
Many people assume forego is just the fancy version of forgo—but that’s not true. Mixing them up can weaken your credibility, especially in academic papers or business writing.
Practical Writing Guide
Here’s a step-by-step guide for deciding which word to use:
Use forgo when:
- You mean to skip, abstain, or give up.
- Context involves sacrifice, choice, or restraint.
- Examples:
- She will forgo dessert tonight.
- They forwent their holiday to save money.
Use forego when:
- You mean something that comes before.
- You’re using the set phrase “foregone conclusion.”
- Examples:
- The preface will forego the main text.
- Victory was a foregone conclusion.
Mnemonics and Memory Tricks
Memory devices make life easier. Try these:
- Forgo = Forget it. If you’re skipping it, just forget it.
- Forego = Foresight. Something comes before something else.
- Or think: “Go without = forgo” and “Go before = forego.”
Forgo and Forego in Action
Language is best understood in use. Let’s see both words in real contexts.
Literature and Media
- Shakespeare used foregone in Othello: “But O, what damned minutes tells he o’er, Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves! It is a foregone conclusion.”
- A recent Wall Street Journal article on sports strategy: “They chose to forgo a trade opportunity for long-term stability.”
Legal and Professional Writing
- Forgo appears in contracts: “The party agrees to forgo claims for damages.”
- Forego often appears in judicial opinions in “foregone conclusion” cases, especially in evidence law.
Synonyms and Alternatives
Sometimes it’s easier to swap in a synonym if you’re unsure.
| Word | Synonyms | Example |
| Forgo | Skip, decline, relinquish, abstain, pass up | She decided to abstain from alcohol for a month. |
| Forego | Precede, come before, lead up to | An appetizer will precede the meal. |
Using synonyms carefully can also keep your writing fresh and avoid repetition.
Key Takeaways for Writers
If you remember nothing else, remember this:
- Forgo = give up, skip, do without.
- Forego = precede, come before (mainly in “foregone conclusion”).
- In 95% of modern writing, you’ll need forgo.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between Forgo and Forego is more than just a spelling detail—it’s about clarity and precision in your writing. While Forgo means to go without something, Forego signals what came before.
Using the right term helps you sharpen your skills, avoid pitfalls, and make your communication stronger. Whether you’re a student, a professional drafting essays, emails, or legal documents, knowing this subtle difference will help you improve and write with ease.
FAQs
Q1: Do Forgo and Forego mean the same thing?
No. Forgo means to go without something, while Forego means to come before.
Q2: Why do writers often confuse Forgo and Forego?
Because the spelling looks nearly identical and they sound the same, even seasoned writers and editors may get confused.
Q3: Are they interchangeable in modern writing?
Not really. Although they may have overlap historically, today they are not interchangeable if you want to maintain clarity.
Q4: Where does the misuse of these words cause problems?
In formal or legal documents, using the wrong word can weaken your point and lead to misinterpretation.
Q5: How can I remember the difference easily?
Think of Forgo as “go without” and Forego as “come before.” These simple memory hints help set them apart.
