have gone wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have gone wrong" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has not proceeded as expected or has encountered problems. Example: "It seems that our plans have gone wrong, and we need to reassess our strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Presidents have gone wrong frequently.

Yale University

Personnel decisions have gone wrong.

The Guardian - Sport

They know where they have gone wrong.

Independent

Something fundamental seems to have gone wrong.

The New York Times

Something seems to have gone wrong.

The Economist

What can have gone wrong?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

What could have gone wrong?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Everything that could have gone wrong did.

The Washington Post

But things already have gone wrong.

The New York Times

"So much could have gone wrong.

The Guardian - Music

We'll explore what could have gone wrong.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have gone wrong", ensure the context clearly indicates what the expected outcome was, providing clarity to the reader. For example: "The experiment should have produced a different result, something must "have gone wrong" during the process."

Common error

Be specific about what "has gone wrong". Instead of saying "Everything "have gone wrong"", specify the aspects that have failed or deviated from the plan.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have gone wrong" functions as a stative verb phrase, indicating a state of being in which something has deviated from its intended or correct state. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have gone wrong" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to express that something has deviated from its intended course. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent use in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what exactly "have gone wrong". Consider alternatives like "have gone amiss" or "have failed" to add nuance to your writing. By following these guidelines, you can effectively communicate when plans "have gone wrong" and suggest a course correction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have gone amiss

Indicates that something has gone wrong or is not as it should be, often suggesting a mistake or error.

have gone awry

Highlights that something has deviated from the expected course, implying a mishap or problem.

have failed

A direct and simple way to state that something has not succeeded or achieved its intended purpose.

have taken a wrong turn

Emphasizes a deviation from the correct path or plan, suggesting a misguided direction.

have proved unsuccessful

States that something has not achieved the desired result, often used in formal contexts.

have gone sour

Suggests that a situation or relationship has become unpleasant or undesirable.

have backfired

Indicates that an action has had the opposite of its intended effect, often with negative consequences.

have fallen apart

Implies that something has disintegrated or failed, often due to internal problems or external pressures.

have miscarried

Implies that a plan or undertaking has failed to achieve its intended outcome.

have come to naught

Highlights that efforts or plans have resulted in nothing, often after significant investment or expectation.

FAQs

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

You can use "have gone wrong" to describe situations where something has malfunctioned, failed, or taken an undesirable turn. For example, "It seems that our plans "have gone wrong", and we need to reassess our strategy."

What are some alternatives to saying "have gone wrong"?

You can use alternatives like "have gone amiss", "have failed", or "have taken a wrong turn" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has gone wrong" instead of "have gone wrong"?

No, "has gone wrong" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "Something has gone wrong"), while "have gone wrong" is used with plural subjects (e.g., "Things have gone wrong") or with the pronoun "I", "you", "we", or "they".

What's the difference between "have gone wrong" and "have gone bad"?

"Have gone wrong" generally implies a failure in a process or plan, while "have gone bad" typically refers to something that has spoiled or decayed, especially food.