Forgo or Forego: What’s the Difference?

Language can be tricky, and sometimes words look identical but have different meanings. The phrase Forgo or Forego often makes even seasoned writers, students, or professionals pause before deciding which version is correct, especially when the usage feels blurred by centuries of change. I remember once wondering whether to forgo a dessert or forego it — a small moment of confusion that made me appreciate how complex English can be.

Understanding the Basics: Forgo vs. Forego

Let’s start with a simple breakdown:

Word	Core Meaning	Modern Usage Frequency	Example Sentence
Forgo	To go without; to give up; to abstain from	Very common	“She decided to forgo her vacation to save money.”
Forego	To precede; to go before	Rare today (except in “foregone conclusion”)	“A detailed introduction will forego the main lecture.”

Key takeaway:

• Forgo = skip, give up, abstain.
• Forego = precede, come before.

Although both are verbs, forgo dominates modern English, while forego survives mainly in set phrases.

The Meaning of Forgo: Choosing to Do Without

Forgo means to voluntarily give up or abstain from something. It implies choice, discipline, or necessity.

Common contexts where “forgo” is used:

• Lifestyle and health:
  • “He decided to forgo sugar for 30 days.”
  • “Many athletes forgo alcohol before competitions.”
• Financial and economic:
  • “Families often forgo luxuries during economic downturns.”
  • “Investors sometimes forgo dividends for long-term growth.”
• Personal sacrifice:
  • “She chose to forgo her career ambitions to raise her children.”
  • “He forwent the promotion to maintain work-life balance.”

Facts about “forgo”:

• First recorded in the 14th century, derived from Old English forgān (“to go without”).
• Still widely used in American and British English.
• The past tense is forwent, and the past participle is forgone (different from “foregone”).

Quote to remember:
“To forgo is not to lose—it is to choose differently.

The Meaning of Forego: To Precede or Come Before

Forego comes from the prefix fore-, meaning “before.” It means to go before, to precede, to happen earlier.

Examples in sentences:

• “Several warm-up activities forego the main event.”
• “The speech was foregone by an introduction from the dean.”

Historical roots:

• Derived from Old English forgān with the prefix fore- (“before”).
• Popular in early modern English literature, especially the 16th–18th centuries.
• Rarely used today outside of legal, historical, or literary contexts.

Historical Development and Usage Trends

To truly understand the confusion, we need to look at the evolution of usage.

Timeline of usage:

• 14th century: Both “forgo” and “forego” appear in Middle English texts
• Shakespeare’s era (1600s): “Forego” was widely used to mean “precede.” He also popularized “foregone conclusion.”
• 18th–19th century: “Forgo” grows in popularity as the dominant spelling for “to go without.”
• 20th century: Dictionaries begin strictly separating the meanings, though some overlap persists.

Data insight:

Google Books Ngram Viewer shows that:

• “Forgo” is significantly more common than “forego.”
• “Forego” mainly survives through the phrase “foregone conclusion.”

Dictionary positions:

• Merriam-Webster: Distinguishes clearly; lists “forego” as “to go before.”
• Oxford English Dictionary: Notes overlap historically but advise distinction.
• AP Stylebook & Chicago Manual of Style: Recommend using forgo for “give up” and forego for “precede.”

Common Misconceptions: Why Writers Mix Them Up

Why do even educated writers get confused?

Main reasons:

• Visual similarity: The words differ by just one letter.
• The phrase “foregone conclusion”: Because “foregone” looks like the past tense of “forgo,” people assume “forego” means “to abstain.”
• Changing definitions: For centuries, dictionaries listed overlapping meanings.
• Editing habits: Many editors simply “correct” one to the other without explanation.

Style guide notes:

• Chicago Manual of Style: “Forgo” means to do without; “forego” means to go before. Do not interchange.
• AP Stylebook: Similar guidance; prefers “forgo” in nearly all modern contexts.

Practical Grammar Rules: When to Use Forgo and When to Use Forego

Here’s a simple decision chart for writers:

If you mean…	Use	Example
To skip, abstain, do without	Forgo	“I’ll forgo dessert tonight.”
To come before, precede	Forego	“An apology will forego the announcement.”
The phrase “foregone conclusion”	Forego (past participle)	“His victory was a foregone conclusion.”

Quick rules to remember:

• In everyday writing: use forgo.
• In legal or literary contexts about sequence: use forego.
• Never write “forgo conclusion”—it’s always “foregone conclusion.”

Examples in Literature, Media, and Law

Forgo in literature and media:

• New York Times (2022): “Consumers are more likely to forgo vacations during economic downturns.”
• Jane Austen, Emma (1815): Characters often “forgo pleasures” for social obligations.
• Modern health blogs Frequently use “forgo” when discussing diets or minimalism.

Forego in literature and law:

• Shakespeare, Othello (1604): “But this denoted a foregone conclusion.”
• Legal usage: Contracts often state that “preliminary hearings forego the trial.”
• Historical texts: 18th-century sermons often used “forego” to mean “come before.”

Case study: “Foregone Conclusion”

• Origin: Shakespeare’s Othello used it to describe something inevitable.
• Today: Used in politics, journalism, and law to describe outcomes considered certain.
• Example: “With his poll numbers, his re-election was a foregone conclusion.”

Mnemonics to Remember the Difference

Simple memory tricks can lock the difference in your mind.

• Forgo = Forget & Go without
  (Both start with “for” and relate to losing/skipping.)
• Forego = Before it goes
  (The “fore-” prefix always means “before.”)
• Visual trick:
  • Think of the forehead → the part that comes before your head.
  • The same prefix applies to forego = come before.

Synonyms and Alternatives for Forgo and Forego

Sometimes the simplest solution is to use a synonym.

Synonyms for forgo (to abstain/give up):

• Give up
• Skip
• Abstain
• Relinquish
• Renounce
• Sacrifice
• Pass up

Synonyms for forego (to precede):

• Precede
• Go before
• Lead up to
• Antecede
• Herald

Comparison table:

Word	Synonyms	Example
Forgo	skip, abstain, renounce	“He chose to forgo luxuries.”
Forego	precede, go before, herald	“A brief speech will forego the ceremony.”

Modern Relevance: Why Getting It Right Matters

You might wonder: Does this small distinction really matter? Yes.

In professional settings:

• A contract clause using forego instead of forgo could alter the meaning.
• Academic papers risk credibility if misused.
• Business leaders risk misinterpretation in global communication.

Real-world examples of mistakes:

• Incorrect: “Employees will forego their bonuses this year.”
• Correct: “Employees will forgo their bonuses this year.”
  (Mistakenly using “forego” could imply the bonuses happen before something else, not that they are skipped.)

Conclusion

The difference between Forgo and Forego is subtle yet significant, and understanding it adds depth to your writing and communication. While both words share similar origins and spellings, their meanings set them apart—forgo means to give up or do without something, whereas forego refers to something that comes before. Recognizing this distinction ensures your language maintains clarity, precision, and confidence, especially in professional or academic contexts where accuracy matters most.

Through centuries of usage, these two words have evolved within dictionary definitions, confusing many writers, students, and editors alike. But by remembering this simple rule—forgo is about sacrifice, and forego is about sequence—you can use both effectively without second-guessing yourself. Whether you’re writing an essay, editing content, or simply communicating thoughtfully, understanding Forgo or Forego strengthens your grasp of English and shows mastery of its shifting nuances and enduring complexities.

FAQs

What is the main difference between forgo and forego?

Forgo means to do without something, while forego means to come before something else in time or order.

Can forgo and forego be used interchangeably?

No, they have distinct meanings and should not be used interchangeably.

Which word should I use when skipping dessert?

Use “forgo” when you choose not to eat dessert.

What does “foregone conclusion” mean?

It means an outcome that is already decided or inevitable.

Are forgo and forego pronounced the same?

Yes, both words are pronounced the same, despite their different meanings.

Why are forgo and forego confusing?

They look nearly identical and sound the same, but differ in meaning and use.

Is forgo more common in modern English?

Yes, forgo is more frequently used today, especially in everyday writing.

When did these words start to differ in meaning?

Their distinction became clearer in English dictionaries over the past few centuries.

Can I use forego in formal writing?

Yes, if referring to something that precedes another event, forego is correct.

How can I remember their meanings easily?

Think “forgo = give up” and “forego = go before” to avoid confusion