Is your health good or well? The simple grammar guide for clarity

Grammarians and language enthusiasts often point out that a common grammatical pitfall involves using "good" and "well" interchangeably. When asked the direct question, Is your health good or well?, the technically correct answer depends on a subtle but important distinction.

Quick Summary

For physical health and illness, "well" is the correct adjective to use, such as saying "I am not feeling well." "Good," an adjective, describes a state of mind or a noun, like "I feel good about my recovery."

Key Points

• Grammar Rule: "Good" is an adjective (modifies nouns), and "well" is an adverb (modifies verbs).

• Health Exception: In the context of physical health, "well" can also function as an adjective.

• Physical vs. Emotional: Use "feel well" to refer to physical condition and "feel good" to refer to your mood or spirits.

• Holistic Health: True health, as defined by the WHO, is about physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of disease.

• Assessing Wellness: Look beyond just physical symptoms to evaluate your energy, sleep, mood, and social connections.

The Grammar Rule: Adjective vs. Adverb

In standard English, the core distinction is that good is an adjective, and well is an adverb. This means they modify different parts of a sentence.

• An adjective describes a noun or pronoun. For example, "This is a good book." or "He is a good person."
• An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. For example, "She sings well." or "The car runs well."

In most cases, this rule of thumb is straightforward. You wouldn't say, "He sings good," because sings is a verb that needs to be modified by the adverb well. However, the context of health introduces a special exception that can cause confusion.

The Health Exception: When 'Well' Acts Like an Adjective

The source of the confusion lies in the fact that when discussing a state of physical health, well can also function as an adjective. In this specific scenario, well is not describing an action, but rather a state of being—a person's physical condition.

Consider these examples:

• "He is feeling well after his surgery." (Describing his physical health)
• "She doesn't look well; I think she has a cold." (Describing her physical appearance as an indicator of health)

This is why, in a medical context, someone is more likely to say, "I am feeling well," to indicate their physical health has returned, rather than "I am feeling good," which could be interpreted differently.

Nuance in Communication: 'Feeling Good' vs. 'Feeling Well'

To add another layer of complexity, linking verbs such as feel and look can be followed by either an adjective (good) or an adverb (well), with a shift in meaning. The verb is connecting the subject to the descriptive word, so what the speaker intends to describe is key.

• "Feeling well" indicates a state of physical health. If you are recovering from an illness, you would tell someone you feel well.
• "Feeling good" indicates a state of mind or overall mood. You might say, "I feel good about my decision," or "I feel good today," to mean you are in a positive mood.

A Quick Comparison

This table highlights the differences in usage based on the intended meaning.

Phrase	Grammatical Use	Connotation	Example
Feeling Well	Adjective (Describing Health)	Physical condition	"I wasn't feeling well yesterday, but I'm much better now."
Feeling Good	Adjective (Describing Mood)	Emotional state	"I feel good about getting that promotion."
Look Well	Adjective (Describing Appearance)	Healthy or physically restored	"You look very well since you got back from vacation."
Look Good	Adjective (Describing Attractiveness)	Aesthetically pleasing	"That suit looks really good on you."

Beyond Grammar: What 'Good Health' Really Means

While the grammatical distinction is interesting, the underlying question of Is your health good or well? opens a door to a more holistic understanding of wellness. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It is "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being." This broad definition highlights that judging your health goes far beyond checking for physical sickness.

Modern wellness focuses on a balanced approach that includes:

• Physical Health: This is the traditional focus—exercise, nutrition, sleep, and medical care.
• Mental Health: This includes your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It's how you handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
• Social Well-being: This involves having a sense of connection and belonging within your community, which is a powerful determinant of overall health.

To have genuinely good health, you need to be doing well in all these areas. The WHO's definition provides a powerful framework for self-assessment that moves beyond simple physical status.

Assessing Your Own Well-being: A Holistic View

Instead of focusing on a single, simplistic answer, you can assess your overall well-being by considering multiple factors. Ask yourself a series of questions to get a clearer picture:

1. Physical Indicators

   • Do you have consistent, stable energy levels throughout the day?
   • Is your sleep restorative? Do you wake up feeling refreshed?
   • Are you eating a balanced diet and staying hydrated?
   • Do you engage in regular physical activity that you enjoy?

2. Mental and Emotional Indicators

   • Do you feel a sense of purpose and direction in your life?
   • Are you resilient in the face of setbacks and challenges?
   • Do you have healthy coping mechanisms for stress?
   • Do you have stable moods and the ability to feel a range of emotions?

3. Social and Environmental Indicators

   • Do you have strong, supportive relationships with family and friends?
   • Do you feel connected to your community?
   • Is your living and working environment conducive to a healthy lifestyle?

Conclusion: The Bigger Picture of Health

Ultimately, whether your health is "good" or "well" depends on the nuance of your communication. For physical health, "well" is the more precise and formal choice, while "good" is appropriate for describing a general sense of happiness or mood. The larger, more important takeaway, however, is that true health is a holistic concept that encompasses more than just the absence of physical sickness.

By attending to your physical, mental, and social well-being, you can strive to be truly well in every sense of the word. A focus on holistic health allows you to move beyond grammatical correctness and toward a richer, more fulfilling state of being.

To delve deeper into the specific grammatical rules of "good" versus "well", explore resources like Grammarly's blog, which offers clear examples and explanations Grammarly: Good vs. Well.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is it correct to say, 'I feel good'?

You can say "I feel good" when you are describing your general emotional state or mood. It means you are happy or in good spirits. For example, "I feel good about my performance today."

When is it correct to say, 'I feel well'?

You should use "I feel well" when you are specifically referring to your physical health. It means you are in a healthy condition, or have recovered from an illness. For example, "After taking that medicine, I feel well again."

Can I use 'good' to describe someone's health?

While it is common in informal conversation to say someone looks or feels 'good' when they are healthy, it can be ambiguous. For clarity, especially in a formal context, use 'well' for physical health.

What's the difference between 'doing good' and 'doing well'?

"Doing well" means you are performing satisfactorily or are in a state of good health. "Doing good" typically means you are performing a virtuous or charitable act. "How are you doing?" can be answered with "I'm doing well," not "I'm doing good."

Does being 'well' always mean you are in good health?

Yes, when used as an adjective to describe a person, 'well' directly pertains to their physical health, indicating they are free from illness. In this specific context, 'well' is synonymous with 'healthy'.

Is it ever okay to say someone 'looks well'?

Yes, saying someone "looks well" is a compliment on their healthy appearance. It's a standard, grammatically correct phrase when observing that a person seems healthy, particularly after a period of being sick.

How can I remember the rule for 'good' vs. 'well'?

A simple trick is to remember that good describes things (nouns), while well describes actions (verbs). For the health exception, just remember that well is used for physical health, and good is used for your feelings or mood.