Somewhat awry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Somewhat awry" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or outcome that is not quite right or has deviated from the expected course. Example: "The project went somewhat awry when the team failed to meet the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

But the best laid plans went somewhat awry.

Cornell University

Unfortunately, too many of the other dancers went somewhat awry in their characterizations.

The New York Times - Arts

FOURTEEN years ago, a plan to reunite witnesses to Charles A. Lindbergh's celebrated trans-Atlantic takeoff went somewhat awry.

The New York Times

United's summer shopping spree has been going somewhat awry since the gaffer headed for the beach, too.

The Guardian - Sport

3.13pm GMT In the semi-finals of the men's halfpipe Ireland's Seamus O'Connor has scored only 54.00 on his first run, so something has gone somewhat awry there.

The Guardian - Sport

The balance of wind and strings was at first somewhat awry in the opening Allegro, but utterly focused in the three later movements, a compelling reminder of what an achievement this piece is.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The sculptures are at turns architectural and robotic, but all are awash in the somewhat frenetic vibe of technology gone awry.

Los Angeles Times

Unfortunately, while they may look somewhat impressive, his machines malfunction and the demo goes horribly awry.

TechCrunch

If he were in a room with other people, he would not be noticed save for his deep-set, heavily shadowed, sad, somewhat doomed blue eyes — eyes curiously related to Marlene's now that she is old and lost, her world gone quite awry.

The New Yorker

Fa awry!

Independent

Everything imaginable went awry.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Somewhat awry" to describe situations where plans or expectations have gone slightly wrong, but not disastrously so. It adds a touch of understatement.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat awry" when the situation is completely chaotic or has resulted in a total failure. "Completely awry" or "disastrously wrong" might be more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Somewhat awry" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the degree to which something has gone wrong. It indicates a partial or moderate deviation from the expected or desired outcome, as suggested by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Somewhat awry" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that describes a situation that has gone a little bit wrong. As Ludwig AI also confirms, it is suitable for use in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academia, where it serves to understate problems. While not as frequent as other similar expressions, "somewhat awry" provides a nuanced way to describe deviations from the expected course. Alternatives such as "slightly amiss" or "a bit askew" can be used depending on the desired level of formality and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Somewhat amiss

This is similar to slightly amiss. The difference is only about the word that quantifies how "awry" the situation is.

Slightly amiss

Replaces "awry" with "amiss", indicating a minor deviation from what is expected.

A bit askew

Uses "askew" instead of "awry", suggesting something is slightly out of alignment or order.

A touch skewed

Similar to "a bit askew", this conveys a slight distortion or deviation from the norm.

A little off

Offers a more informal way to express that something is not quite right.

Slightly out of kilter

Suggests a minor imbalance or misalignment, similar to being slightly off.

Slightly out of order

More explicitly describes the deviation as a disruption of the correct order.

Somewhat haywire

Emphasizes a state of disorder or disarray, implying a more chaotic deviation.

Somewhat Crooked

Replaces "awry" with the term "crooked", it suggests a bend or a deviation from the straight path.

Partially gone wrong

This phrase clearly indicates that something has not succeeded completely and is not entirely correct.

FAQs

What does "Somewhat awry" mean?

"Somewhat awry" means that something has gone a little bit wrong or has deviated slightly from the expected course. It indicates a minor problem or imperfection.

How can I use "Somewhat awry" in a sentence?

You can use "Somewhat awry" to describe a plan, situation, or event that hasn't gone completely wrong, but isn't quite right. For example: "The project went "somewhat awry" when the team missed the deadline."

What can I say instead of "Somewhat awry"?

You can use alternatives like "slightly amiss", "a bit askew", or "a little off" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "Completely awry"?

Yes, "Completely awry" is correct, but it indicates a much larger deviation or failure than ""somewhat awry"". Use "completely" when something has gone entirely wrong.