"If all goes well"

Question

Hi,

I really need an expert to help resolve this debate. I'd appreciate a native's points of view toward this "fragment": "if all goes well"

QUestion: Is this a fixed expression, or a conditional phrase (prep phrase)?

Scenario: You are invited to a get-together lunch by a friend with an email. You replied "I am glad to receive your invitation and I will be glad to talk about old time with you guys. "If all goes well, I see you there".

With this mood, is this a firm committment to the lunch with a sure message that you will be there 99%, or an unsure message telling people that you still have a tiny fraction of a percent that you may not make it to the lunch.

The argument was about the certainty of this sentence "If all goes well, I see you there".

Does it demonstrate a firm committment to go, or an unsure committment?

Thank you in advance,

Yankee · Accepted Answer

Hi Anon,

Anonymous"If all goes well, I'll see you there".

First of all, I'd use "will" in the second half of the sentence. It's not natural without it.

You could have simply said "I'll see you there" (i.e. without the IF-clause). In the context you provided, I would understand such a sentence to be an unreserved commitment -- an unconditional promise to be there.

If all goes well, I'll see you there.
The addition of the IF-clause changes things, however. It presents a condition. Thus, "I'll see you there" is now dependent on the condition being fulfilled. In other words, in the event that the condition ("all goes well") is not fulfilled, you will not be there. Therefore, the IF-clause adds an element of doubt, and that sentence cannot be said to be a 100% commitment to be there.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for the reply. I understand the scenario where people do take the clause "if it goes well..."

literally as conditional. However, I feel that people use this phrase in a relaxed manner to mean "if everything goes as planned.....x will happen". To me, this usage suggests a positive and firm commitment. But my wife feels that this clause contains a elemnt of doubt, just as you described.

I heard several famous talk show hosts and tv personalities said something like this before, "If all goes well, I will see you tomorrow, same time same place". I take this message as a 99% confirmed appointment that he will meet his audience again (if he doesn't get run over by a car, or fall down the stairs).

Would anyone treat this as an idiomatic expression to indicate a firm commitment, perhaps with a touch of being casual? Or a message with a conditional element?

Or it depends on the context of the entire conversation, this clause can take on either a positive or negative complexion?

I am not sure if I have expressed my questions adequately.

Mister Micawber · Answer

I would be interested in seeing your list of 'several famous talk show hosts and tv personalities [who] said something like this', but anyway, I consider the phrase fixed, casual, and noncommital-- at least, it adds no strength to 'I'll see you tomorrow'.

Anonymous · Answer

Mister MicawberI consider the phrase fixed, casual, and noncommital-- at least, it adds no strength to 'I'll see you tomorrow'.

MM, Thank you for the comment. Perhaps "commital" is not the right word. What if I reword it to "if all goes well, I firmly expect to attend the event". Would this expression be properly phrased in reference to the context I want to get across?

Mister Micawber · Answer

Not if I understand what you are trying to identify.  It is the word 'firmly' that establishes the commitment, not 'if all goes well'.  This latter maintains its meaning as before.

Anonymous · Answer

Mister MicawberNot if I understand what you are trying to identify. It is the word 'firmly' that establishes the commitment, not 'if all goes well'. This latter maintains its meaning as before.

My intended meaning was that I deeply expected to make it to the event given nothing unexpected is to sidetrack or derail my plan. In that sense, I firmly commit myself to attending. That's the context I tried to get across. Hope I successfully explained it.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Yes, that's what it says to me.

Yankee · Answer

I can't help but wonder what your wife's reaction would have been if you had added the phrase "if all goes well" to your wedding vows.

"If all goes well"

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