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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
got disturbing
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "got disturbing" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey that something became unsettling or troubling, but it lacks proper grammatical structure. Example: "The news got disturbing as more details emerged about the incident."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Wiki
Science
Alternative expressions(1)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
OKLAHOMA CITY — Sherri Coale was a coach at nearby Norman High School in March of 1990 when she got disturbing news about the University of Oklahoma.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
57 human-written examples
Wherever the early Christians entered a town the power structure got disturbed and immediately sought to convict them for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators"..
News & Media
By doing it in this kind of stateless bit of Britain, a port or an airport transit lounge and calling it terror, they suspend all the normal rules and I think that is why people have got disturbed by what happened on Sunday.
News & Media
All these things got disturbed.
News & Media
It's also where cufflinks get disturbing.
News & Media
There would be things you get disturbed by, and this would be...."....
News & Media
"If some innocent person is shot dead on the road, anyone will get disturbed and agitated," she said.
News & Media
"We Europeans always get disturbed when Americans engage in this kind of love affair with the Russians," she added.
News & Media
"I get disturbed when someone in his right mind tells me a person can't do it," he said.
News & Media
"Pretty much every time a human being gets disturbed, they're sneaking in, consciously or unconsciously, a 'must'," Ellis said.
News & Media
With unconventional oil, the damage tends to be higher all around — more land gets disturbed, more pollutants are produced, and more opportunities arise for contamination.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
If you aim to use the perfect tense, ensure that "gotten disturbing" is used instead to maintain grammatical accuracy.
Common error
Avoid using "got" directly followed by a present participle like 'disturbing' to indicate a change of state. This phrasing is not grammatically correct. Instead, use "became disturbing" or "turned unsettling."
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
2.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "got disturbing" is typically intended to function as a verb phrase, indicating a process of becoming disturbing or unsettling. However, Ludwig AI notes that it is not grammatically correct in standard written English. A correct way of expressing this idea would be using "became disturbing".
Frequent in
News & Media
33%
Wiki
33%
Science
33%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, while the phrase "got disturbing" might seem like a straightforward way to express that something became unsettling, Ludwig AI analysis indicates it is not grammatically correct in standard written English. It's better to use alternatives like "became disturbing" or "turned unsettling" to maintain grammatical accuracy. The infrequent nature of its appearance and its grammatical status suggest avoiding it in formal contexts. The analyzed examples reveal its occasional use across news, wiki, and scientific sources, but this does not validate its correctness. Always prioritize grammatically sound options for clear communication.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
became disturbing
Replaces "got" with "became", a more grammatically standard way to express a change in state.
turned disturbing
Similar to "became disturbing", "turned" provides a grammatically sound alternative.
became unsettling
Replaces "disturbing" with "unsettling", offering a synonym with a similar emotional tone.
turned unsettling
Combines "turned" with "unsettling" for a grammatically correct and semantically similar alternative.
gotten disturbing
Uses the correct past participle of "get" in this context.
started to disturb
Emphasizes the beginning of the disturbing action.
began to disturb
Similar to "started to disturb", but with a slightly more formal tone.
was starting to disturb
Expresses the idea that something was in the process of becoming disturbing.
became worrisome
Focuses on the aspect of causing worry rather than disturbance.
turned alarming
Highlights the increasingly alarming nature of something.
FAQs
What's a more grammatically correct way to say "got disturbing"?
Alternatives include "became disturbing" or "turned disturbing", both of which are standard English phrases.
Is "gotten disturbing" correct?
Yes, "gotten disturbing" is grammatically correct, especially in American English, as it uses the past participle of "get" to express a change into a state of being disturbing.
When should I use "became disturbing" instead of "got disturbing"?
Use "became disturbing" in formal writing or whenever grammatically correct phrasing is essential. "Got disturbing" is generally considered incorrect.
What's the difference between "disturbing" and "unsettling" when replacing "got disturbing"?
"Disturbing" implies causing anxiety or disrupting peace, while "unsettling" suggests causing unease or a lack of stability. Both can work, but choose the word that best fits the specific nuance you intend to convey.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
80%
Authority and reliability
2.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested