Meaning & use
NG
Last updated
Meanings
abbreviationinformal
An informal short form of 'no good', used in ads, reviews, and casual notes.
Grammar: Written in capital letters and used like a label or a quick note; it is not usually spoken as a word.
Patterns
- NG + noun
- be NG
The used car was marked NG because of engine trouble.
She wrote 'NG' next to the item on her shopping list.
The seller's ad said 'NG' for the scratched table.
abbreviationbefore a nounmedicaltechnical
A medical short form for 'nasogastric', relating to a tube passed through the nose into the stomach.
Grammar: Used before nouns in medical contexts: NG tube, NG feeding.
Patterns
- NG tube
- NG feeding
The patient needed an NG tube for feeding.
The nurse checked the NG tube carefully.
abbreviationbusinesstechnical
A short form for 'natural gas', a fuel gas found underground.
Grammar: Used in energy and business writing, often in tables or notes.
Patterns
- NG prices
- NG supply
The report showed a rise in NG prices.
NG production increased last year.
Common combinations
- NG tube
- The doctor inserted an NG tube to help the patient eat.
- marked NG
- The item was marked NG and returned to the seller.
- NG prices
- NG prices fell sharply in the last quarter.
Synonyms and how they differ
- no good
- The full phrase; NG is just a written short form used in notes and ads.
Commonly confused: NG or N.G.? NG or NG?
NG vs N.G.
Sometimes written with periods, especially in older texts; the meaning is the same.
NG vs NG
In some countries NG stands for Nigeria (the country code); context makes the meaning clear.
Practice
In a classified ad, what does 'NG' most likely mean?
Choose one answer.
In classified ads and casual notes, NG is a short way to write 'no good', meaning the item is faulty or unsatisfactory. The other options are possible in other contexts but are not the usual meaning in a small ad.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “NG”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.