Forgo or Forego: What’s the Difference? (With Examples)

If you’ve ever paused while writing and asked yourself whether to use forgo or forego, you’re not alone. As a student, I struggled with this too, especially when brushing up on my writing skills in English class. Forgo or Forego are two words that may look nearly identical, but the difference in spelling hints at something deeper: a split in meaning that can confuse even seasoned writers and editors.

While both sound the same, forgo typically means to do without something, while forego refers to something that came before. These meanings may overlap historically, but they aren’t truly interchangeable. Choosing the right word can sharpen your communication, transform how it’s received, and improve clarity.

Understanding “Forgo” and “Forego” in Modern English

Let’s begin with clear, concise definitions:

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Pronunciation	Example
Forgo	Verb	To give up or do without	/fɔːrˈɡoʊ/	She decided to forgo dessert.
Forego	Verb	To go before, precede	/fɔːrˈɡoʊ/	Pain often foregoes illness.

Quick tip:

“Forgo” = Forget or give up “Forego” = Forecast or come before

They sound the same, but mean very different things. This similarity creates some real writing trouble – especially when spellcheck doesn’t catch the mistake.

Etymology: Where “Forgo” and “Forego” Come From

Understanding a word’s origin can cement its meaning in your mind. Let’s explore the roots:

• Forgo comes from Old English forgān, where “for-” means away from or without, and “gān” means to go. So, it literally meant “to go without.”
• Forego comes from foregān, where “fore-” means before, and again, “gān” means to go. So, it meant “to go before.”

This small difference in prefixes – for- vs. fore- – makes a world of difference in definition. Both roots date back to Middle and Old English and have diverged over centuries.

The Meaning of Forgo: Choosing to Give Up or Do Without

“Forgo” is the more commonly used of the two today. You use it when you’re talking about voluntarily giving something up.

Common contexts where “forgo” appears:

• Health: “He had to forgo alcohol after the diagnosis.”
• Finance: “They chose to forgo the bonus in exchange for more shares.”
• Ethics: “She decided to forgo the prize for the sake of fairness.”

Examples:

“He chose to forgo college in order to start his business early.” “Many athletes forgo carbs before competitions.”

Forgo implies a deliberate choice – not one forced upon someone. It’s especially popular in formal writing, contracts, and journalism.

The True Meaning of Forego: Going Before or Preceding

“Forego” is far less common today, and it often lives only in specific phrases like “foregone conclusion.”

Here’s what it means: to come before in order, time, or place.

Use cases of “forego”:

• Formal writing: “The discussion will forego the signing ceremony.”
• Literature: “Regret foregoes despair in many tragedies.”
• Medical or logical sequences: “Symptoms typically forego diagnosis.”

Real-world example:

“Certain economic indicators forego a recession.”

Forgo vs. Forego: Side-by-Side Usage in Sentences

The best way to see the contrast is through examples:

Sentence Using “Forgo”	Sentence Using “Forego”
She will forgo the luxury of a vacation.	These measures forego full economic collapse.
I had to forgo dessert to meet my health goal.	Silence often foregoes awkward conversations.
He chose to forgo his salary for equity.	A speech will forego the awards presentation.

Notice how forgo always relates to giving something up, while forego relates to things happening beforehand.

Common Mistakes: Why Even Experts Mix Them Up

So why is this so confusing?

1. They sound the same. Both are pronounced /fɔːrˈɡoʊ/, making them homophones.
2. Autocorrect doesn’t help. Most spellcheckers accept both words, even in the wrong context.
3. Influence of “foregone conclusion.” This phrase has blurred the lines between the two words, especially in legal and formal speech.
4. Lack of awareness in digital writing. The pace of online communication leaves little room for nuanced grammar.

Grammatical Guide: When and Where to Use Each Word

“Forgo” is a transitive verb

That means it needs an object. You can’t just “forgo” – you forgo something.

• ✅ Correct: “She will forgo the fee.”
• ❌ Incorrect: “She will forgo.”

“Forego” can be intransitive or transitive, depending on use

• ✅ “The speech will forego the ceremony.”
• ✅ “Confusion often foregoes clarity.”

Use foregone as the past participle of “forego,” and forgone for “forgo.”

Past forms:

• Forgo → Forgone
• Forego → Foregone

Mnemonic Devices to Remember the Difference

Here’s how to keep them straight:

• Forgo = Forget it You’re giving it up. “I’ll forgo dessert.”
• Forego = Forecast comes before It goes before something else. “Symptoms forego diagnosis.”

Bonus Mnemonics:

• Forgo the “e” like you’re eliminating something.
• Forego keeps the “e” like “before.”

The Phrase “Foregone Conclusion”: Why It’s the Outlier

This common phrase misleads many.

“Foregone conclusion” means:

A result that is certain or inevitable.

📖 Shakespeare used it first in Othello:

“But this denoted a foregone conclusion.”

Modern usage:

• “It was a foregone conclusion that they’d win the case.”
• “With their lead, the result was a foregone conclusion.”

This phrase uses foregone, not forgone, because it means the outcome preceded the event mentally – it was already assumed.

Obsolete vs. Evolving: Is “Forego” Dying Out?

Yes, to some degree.

According to Google Ngram Viewer, the usage of “forgo” has increased while “forego” has declined significantly since the 1900s.

Year	Usage of Forgo	Usage of Forego
1900	Low	Moderate
1950	Rising	Falling
2020	Higher	Rare

Style guides like APA and Chicago Manual of Style recommend using “forgo” for skipping/giving up, and reserving “forego” only for its original “to precede” meaning.

Synonyms & Related Words: How to Replace Forgo and Forego

Sometimes, you want variety or a clearer expression. Here’s a table:

Context	Forgo Synonyms	Forego Synonyms
Diet	Skip, abstain from	N/A
Finance	Sacrifice, pass up	Precede, go before
Ethics	Relinquish, surrender	Lead, introduce
Lifestyle	Renounce, drop	Herald, come before

When You Can Interchange Forgo and Forego (If Ever)

Technically? Almost never.

However, in older literature or poetic contexts, you might find blurred usage. Some older writers used “forego” instead of “forgo,” even when talking about abstaining.

Example from the 19th century:

“He chose to forego the pleasures of wine.” Today, this would be flagged as incorrect or archaic.

So while interchanging them might not be wrong historically, it’s not recommended in modern writing.

Usage in Media, Law, and Literature

In Media:

• “The celebrity chose to forgo the lavish wedding.” – NY Times
• “Symptoms often forego outbreaks.” – Healthline

In Law:

“A party may forgo its right to trial if they accept arbitration.” “The warnings forego the liability clause.”

Legal language is especially sensitive to word choice, and confusing the two can result in misinterpretation.

Quick Recap: How to Always Get it Right

Here’s a checklist:

• ✅ Use forgo to mean give up
• ✅ Use forego to mean go before
• ✅ Remember: foregone conclusion is the only common modern use of “forego”
• ✅ When in doubt, substitute a synonym to double-check meaning

Final Thoughts

English can be tricky, and few word pairs highlight that better than forgo and forego. Although they’re pronounced the same, they don’t mean the same thing. One is about giving something up (forgo), and the other is about going before (forego). That single “e” creates a huge difference in meaning and usage.

While “forgo” appears frequently in modern writing – especially in health, finance, and lifestyle contexts – “forego” is often confined to literary, legal, or academic texts. Most commonly, you’ll encounter it in the phrase “foregone conclusion,” which is so familiar that it confuses all on its own.

For writers, editors, and students aiming for clarity, it’s essential to know when to use each word. This isn’t just grammar for grammar’s sake – choosing the wrong word could mislead your 

FAQs

What is the main difference between forgo and forego?

Forgo means to do without or give something up. Forego means to go before or precede. Though they sound the same, their meanings are different and shouldn’t be used interchangeably.

Is it “foregone” or “forgone conclusion”?

The correct phrase is “foregone conclusion” with an e. It means an outcome that’s inevitable or obvious. It comes from “forego,” which means to precede – implying the conclusion has already been decided.

Can I use “forego” instead of “forgo” in casual writing?

No. Using “forego” instead of “forgo” is incorrect and may confuse your reader. Even though they sound alike, their meanings are distinct. Always choose the word that matches the intended meaning.

Is “forgone” ever correct?

Yes, “forgone” is the past participle of “forgo.” For example: “She has forgone sugar since January.” Just don’t confuse it with “foregone,” which comes from “forego” and means something that preceded.

How can I remember the difference between forgo and forego?

Try this mnemonic: “Forgo = Forget or Give up; Forego = Forecast or Go before.” The “e” in forego reminds you it comes from “before.” No “e”? Then you’re probably talking about skipping something.