gone wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gone wrong" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation or event that did not turn out as expected or desired. Example: The party had been going perfectly until the cake caught on fire, and then everything went wrong.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

What had gone wrong?

Yale University

« Good science gone wrong?

University of California, Berkeley

ReprintsWhat has gone wrong?

The Economist

Something's gone wrong".

Independent

Or gunplay gone wrong?

The New York Times - Arts

Everything's just gone wrong.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

What went wrong?

Journal of Engineering and Technology Management

What could go wrong?

Yale University

So, what went wrong?

Columbia University

Much could go wrong.

Harvard University

What can go wrong?

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gone wrong" to describe situations where an intended or expected outcome was not achieved. This phrase is versatile and applicable across diverse contexts, from describing personal mishaps to analyzing large-scale project failures. It clearly conveys that something deviated from the planned course.

Common error

While "gone wrong" is widely understood, it can sound informal in certain professional or academic settings. In those situations, consider stronger or more precise alternatives like "deviated from the plan", "failed to achieve objectives", or "resulted in adverse outcomes" to maintain a higher degree of formality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gone wrong" functions as a phrasal verb, where "gone" is the past participle of "go" and "wrong" modifies the verb. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Academia

21%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "gone wrong" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to describe situations that have deviated from their intended course. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across various contexts. It is most frequently found in News & Media, Academia, and Science sources, indicating a neutral register suitable for general communication. While widely understood, it is advisable to use more formal alternatives in specific professional or academic settings to maintain a higher degree of formality. Remember to use "gone wrong" to show how intentions or expectations were not met, and how things ended up in undesirable outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gone awry

Replaces "wrong" with "awry", suggesting a turning or twisting away from the correct course.

gone amiss

Substitutes "wrong" with "amiss", indicating something is out of place or not as it should be.

gone sour

Emphasizes the disappointing or undesirable outcome.

turned sour

Replaces the entire phrase with a metaphor indicating a negative transformation or outcome.

taken a turn for the worse

Indicates a change from good to bad, emphasizing the worsening of a situation.

backfired

Indicates a plan or action that has produced an unintended and undesirable result.

fallen apart

Suggests a disintegration or failure of something to hold together or function correctly.

misfired

Implies a failure to achieve the intended result, often in a planned or deliberate action.

gone to pot

Implies a decline in quality or condition, often due to neglect or mismanagement.

fallen through

Indicates a plan or agreement that has failed to materialize.

FAQs

What does "gone wrong" mean?

"Gone wrong" means that something has not turned out as planned or expected. It implies that a situation or process has deviated from its intended course and produced an undesirable outcome.

What can I say instead of "gone wrong"?

You can use alternatives like "gone awry", "gone amiss", or "turned sour" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "gone wrong"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Gone" is the past participle of "go", and "wrong" functions as an adjective or adverb modifying the verb. The phrase is commonly used to describe situations that have not unfolded as expected.

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

You can use "gone wrong" to describe a wide array of situations. For example, "The experiment had unforeseen complications and everything "gone wrong"", or "Despite careful planning, the project "gone wrong" due to lack of resources".