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Reader question: Please explain “for good”, as in, “Twitter is a force for good” and “He’s here for good.” My comments: These two examples of “for good” are different. They’re not all for the common “good” (not “common good”, which is another matter entirely), as in good and bad. In the first example, “Twitter is a force for good” is a fixed phrase. Here, “good” means morally right, as in “good and evil”. In talking about Twitter being a force for good, the speaker means to point out the fact that people sharing information quickly and en mass is a good thing, socially progressive that is. In second example, “He’s here for good”, the phrase to note is “for good” and here it means for ever, or permanently. In other words, he’s here to stay – for a long time and perhaps never to leave again. Back to “force for good” for one moment. The Internet, in general, is a force for good, you may argue. Information (knowledge) is important. Crucial. With up-to-date (or up-to-the-minute in the case of Twitter) information, an individual is more likely to make the right decisions for himself. Obviously. On a larger scale, instant spread of information helps social stability as it may help curb systematic malpractice. Governments, for example, knowing that the public knows exactly what they’re up to, will think twice before going ahead with any potentially unpopular initiatives. The Nazis, to use a horrible example, would never be able to do the terrible things they did to the Jews in this age, the age of the Internet. | 
