goes wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "goes wrong" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate when something didn't turn out as expected or desired. For example, "I thought everything would go perfectly, but something went wrong."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Until it goes wrong.

Independent

What goes wrong?

The New York Times

But something goes wrong.

The New York Times - Books

A lot goes wrong.

The New York Times

Until something goes wrong.

The New York Times

Suddenly, everything goes wrong.

The New York Times - Magazine

The plan goes wrong – everything goes wrong.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It never goes wrong".

The New York Times - Books

Aviva's operation goes wrong.

The Guardian - Film

Then something goes wrong.

The New York Times

Somehow, this goes wrong.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a sequence of events, use "goes wrong" to signal a critical turning point where problems arise. For example, "The experiment seemed promising, but then something went wrong."

Common error

Avoid using "goes wrong" to describe the inherent nature of objects. Instead, focus on specific processes or events. For instance, instead of saying "This tool always goes wrong", try "This tool malfunctions frequently" or "The process of using this tool often goes wrong".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "goes wrong" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating that a situation, plan, or process is experiencing failure, problems, or deviations from the expected outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Reference

5%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "goes wrong" is a versatile and common verb phrase used to describe situations where something deviates from the expected or desired outcome. Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically correct and widely used. It's found most frequently in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. When using "goes wrong", ensure that the subject is a process, plan, or situation rather than an inanimate object and is employed to highlight a negative event or development. Alternatives like "takes a turn for the worse" or "becomes problematic" can add nuance to your writing. By understanding its proper use and common errors, you can effectively communicate when things don't go as planned.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

takes a turn for the worse

Indicates a negative change or decline in a situation.

becomes problematic

Highlights the emergence of issues or difficulties.

starts to fail

Focuses on the beginning stages of a process or system breaking down.

runs into trouble

Suggests encountering obstacles or difficulties.

doesn't go as planned

Emphasizes the difference between the intended outcome and the actual result.

develops complications

Highlights the emergence of additional problems or issues.

proves unsuccessful

Emphasizes the failure to achieve a desired result.

turns sour

Suggests a situation becoming unpleasant or undesirable.

hits a snag

Indicates encountering an unexpected obstacle or difficulty.

suffers a setback

Focuses on experiencing a delay or reversal in progress.

FAQs

How can I use "goes wrong" in a sentence?

You can use "goes wrong" to describe a situation or plan that fails to proceed as expected. For example, "The presentation was well-prepared, but everything "goes wrong" when the projector malfunctions."

What are some alternatives to "goes wrong"?

Alternatives to "goes wrong" include "takes a turn for the worse", "becomes problematic", or "starts to fail", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "went wrong" or "gone wrong"?

Both "went wrong" and "gone wrong" are grammatically correct, but they are used in different tenses. "Went wrong" is the past tense (e.g., "Something went wrong yesterday"), while "gone wrong" is the past participle, often used with auxiliary verbs (e.g., "Everything has gone wrong").

What's the difference between "goes wrong" and "goes amiss"?

"Goes wrong" is a more general term for something not proceeding as expected. "Goes amiss" is a more formal and nuanced way of saying something is not quite right, suggesting a slight error or deviation. You can consider using "goes amiss".