Navigate Lingo

All confusables

Forgo / Forego

Different meanings

Forgo means do without; forego traditionally means go before, as in foregoing. Forego is also an accepted variant spelling of forgo, but the distinction can improve clarity.

Forgo

Use when

You mean go without, give up or choose not to have something.

Example

“The team agreed to forgo the optional review stage.”

Forego

Use when

You mean go before or precede, most often in the fixed form foregoing.

Example

“The foregoing analysis supports the recommendation.”

Quick check

forego the fee, forgoing paragraph, foregoing the benefit

Usage note

If foregoing sounds legalistic, replace it with previous or above.

Source checked 2026-08-11 (opens in a new tab)