everything went wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "everything went wrong" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation in which everything has gone wrong, usually because of a series of unfortunate events. For example: "I had a great day planned for today but unfortunately, everything went wrong. First, I missed my bus to the park then it started to rain after I got there which ruined my picnic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But everything went wrong.

The New Yorker

Here, everything went wrong.

The Guardian - Sport

Then everything went wrong.

The New York Times

Then suddenly, everything went wrong.

The Guardian

Everything went wrong after that.

The Guardian

That night, everything went wrong.

The Guardian - Opinion

But within weeks, nearly everything went wrong.

The New York Times

Contrastingly, everything went wrong for the visitors.

Independent

And everything went wrong, again, bizarrely.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Suddenly, everything goes wrong.

The New York Times - Magazine

The plan goes wrong – everything goes wrong.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "everything went wrong" to succinctly convey that numerous problems occurred, rather than detailing each individual issue.

Common error

While "everything went wrong" is acceptable in general writing, consider using more nuanced or formal language in professional or academic settings to describe specific failures.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "everything went wrong" functions as a concise statement indicating a complete or near-complete failure of events. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. This contrasts with statements that may only express singular failures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "everything went wrong" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that a series of events resulted in failure. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread usage across various contexts. While primarily found in news and media, it's crucial to consider the register and opt for more specific language in formal or technical writing. Related alternatives include "everything fell apart" or "disaster struck", depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

everything fell apart

This alternative suggests a complete breakdown or disintegration of a situation, system, or plan.

everything spiraled out of control

This implies a loss of control, where events rapidly worsen and become unmanageable.

disaster struck

This highlights a sudden, calamitous event that causes widespread damage or suffering.

the situation deteriorated rapidly

Focuses on the swift decline of circumstances from bad to worse.

the wheels came off

This idiom indicates that a plan or process failed spectacularly.

it all went south

This suggests a turn for the worse, with a focus on direction.

complete failure ensued

This alternative emphasizes that the ultimate outcome was failure, often on a grand scale.

the worst-case scenario unfolded

This highlights that the most undesirable potential outcome became reality.

it was a complete catastrophe

This emphasizes the magnitude of the negative outcome and its devastating effects.

the whole thing backfired

This indicates that an action intended to produce a positive result had the opposite effect.

FAQs

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

You can use "everything went wrong" to describe a situation where multiple plans or aspects failed. For example: "We had meticulously planned the event, but unfortunately, "everything went wrong"."

What are some alternatives to saying "everything went wrong"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "everything fell apart", "disaster struck", or "the wheels came off".

Is it grammatically correct to say "everything went wrong"?

Yes, "everything went wrong" is grammatically correct. "Everything" is the subject, "went" is the past tense of the verb "go", and "wrong" functions as an adverb describing how it went.

Which is correct, "everything went wrong" or "everything was wrong"?

"Everything went wrong" implies that a process or situation deteriorated. "Everything was wrong" suggests that the state of things was incorrect or flawed from the beginning. The better choice depends on the specific context.