and went wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "and went wrong" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or action that has deviated from the intended course or outcome. Example: "The project started off well, but somewhere along the way, it lost focus and went wrong."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Kepler, an American one that was launched in 2009 and went wrong in 2013, cost $600m.

The Economist

The club went bust, came out of administration in 2003-04, and that was when the fan-owned experiment was tried and went wrong.

Independent

We'd each grab a beer and have an informal debriefing of the company's goings-on: what worked well and went wrong this week, our plans for next week, and things that we could do to improve the overall company.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

And go wrong it does.

The Guardian - Music

What could go right and go wrong?

The New York Times - Sports

Otherwise, they can go wrong and go wrong quickly.

TechCrunch

And something went wrong, and Quinny punched someone.

The Guardian - Sport

And everything went wrong, again, bizarrely.

The New York Times - Sports

And what went wrong at Columbine, anyway?

The New Yorker

And what went wrong with it?

The New Yorker

The food was awful and everything went wrong.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "and went wrong" to connect a previous action or situation with an unexpected or undesirable outcome. It often implies a turning point where things took a negative turn.

Common error

While "and went wrong" is acceptable in many situations, avoid overusing it in formal writing. Opt for more precise or sophisticated phrasing like "and the plan proved unsuccessful" or "and the situation deteriorated" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "and went wrong" functions as a conjunction phrase, connecting a preceding clause with the subsequent negative outcome. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness and usability in written English. It describes how an event or plan took an undesirable turn.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "and went wrong" is a grammatically correct conjunction phrase employed to signify that a situation has taken an unexpected turn for the worse. While deemed usable and correct by Ludwig AI, its neutral register makes it less appropriate for formal or scientific discourse. The phrase frequently surfaces in news and media, wikis, and scientific contexts, connoting disappointment or failure. For more formal writing, consider alternatives such as "the plan proved unsuccessful" or "the situation deteriorated". The analyzed authoritative sources include names such as The Guardian, The New York Times and BBC.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

and turned sour

Indicates a negative change or deterioration, similar to something going wrong.

and took a nosedive

Emphasizes a sudden and dramatic failure or decline.

and fell apart

Suggests disintegration or collapse, highlighting the negative outcome.

and backfired

Implies that an action had the opposite of the intended effect.

and went awry

A more formal way of saying something went wrong.

and missed the mark

Indicates a failure to achieve the desired result or target.

and came to grief

A more literary phrase indicating a disastrous end.

and proved unsuccessful

A straightforward way of stating that something did not succeed.

and malfunctioned

Specifically implies a failure in the operation of a system or device.

and went pear-shaped

British slang indicating a situation that has gone badly wrong.

FAQs

How can I use "and went wrong" in a sentence?

You can use "and went wrong" to describe how a plan, situation, or process failed or deviated from its intended course. For example, "We had a solid strategy, but communication broke down "and went wrong"."

What are some alternatives to "and went wrong"?

Alternatives include "and turned sour", "and fell apart", or "and backfired", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "and went wrong" too informal for academic writing?

While generally acceptable, "and went wrong" might be considered too informal for strict academic writing. Consider alternatives such as "and the experiment yielded unexpected results" or "and the methodology proved flawed" for a more professional tone.

What's the difference between "and went wrong" and "and took a turn for the worse"?

"And went wrong" implies a deviation from the intended path, while "and took a turn for the worse" suggests a clear decline in quality or condition. The latter is often used for situations that are deteriorating.