go broken

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "go broken" is not correct or usable in written English.
It is not a grammatically correct phrase. However, you could use the phrase "break down" instead which has the same meaning. For example, "My car broke down while I was on my way to work".

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The high school itself is the next to go, broken into small, specialized schools that can give greater attention to students.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Today, you'd go broke doing same.

The New York Times

"And I almost did go broke, twice!

The Guardian - Film

I'll go broke if I have to.

The New York Times - Sports

"I might go broke at lunchtime," she said.

The New York Times

European welfare states go broke trying to deliver these impossibilities.

The New York Times

I got sick the way Hemingway says you go broke: "gradually and then suddenly".

The New Yorker

But you'd go broke betting on where he was headed next.

The New York Times

Some 60 percent of N.B.A. players go broke within five years, the magazine found.

The New York Times

"I'd go broke if we switched to organic farming," he said.

The New Yorker

QUESTION FROM CHER: And no one should go broke because they dedicate themselves to public service!

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "go broken" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "become broken" or "break down".

Common error

Do not use "go broken" when you mean to say something becomes broken. It's better to use phrases like "get broken" or "become damaged" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "go broken" is intended to function as a descriptive phrase indicating a transition to a state of being damaged or non-functional. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this construction is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "go broken" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While it may be understood in informal contexts, it's best to avoid using this phrase in formal or professional writing. Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "get broken", "become damaged", or "break down" to ensure clarity and accuracy. Its rare occurrence and lack of grammatical correctness make it a less desirable choice for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get broken

Uses "get" instead of "go" as the auxiliary verb to indicate a state change to broken.

become damaged

Replaces "go" with "become" to describe the process of something becoming damaged.

break down

Emphasizes a functional failure or collapse.

end up broken

Similar to "turn out broken", but focuses on the final state.

turn out broken

Emphasizes the result of something ending up broken.

be out of order

Suggests a temporary state of being broken or not working.

fall apart

Uses a phrasal verb to describe something breaking into pieces.

become nonfunctional

Replaces the idea of being "broken" with a technical term to indicate a loss of function.

become defective

Replaces the idea of being "broken" with an adjective that means imperfect or faulty.

cease to function

More formal way to express the failure of something working.

FAQs

Is "go broken" grammatically correct?

No, "go broken" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "get broken" or "become damaged" instead.

What does it mean when something "goes broken"?

The intended meaning is that something becomes non-functional or damaged. However, the phrasing is incorrect. You could say "it broke".

How can I use "broken" correctly in a sentence?

You can use "broken" correctly by saying "it is broken", "it got broken", or "it became broken". These are all grammatically sound.

Which is correct, "go broken" or "get broken"?

"Get broken" is more commonly accepted than "go broken", though alternatives such as "become damaged" or simply "break down" are preferred.