he has gone crazy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he has gone crazy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone has become irrational, unreasonable, or out of control due to an emotional issue. For example: "John has been under a lot of stress lately, and I think it's gotten to the point where he has gone crazy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

He has gone crazy.

The New Yorker

The only blight on Calvin's happiness is his fear that he has gone crazy, and he tries fruitlessly to wish her out of existence.

The New York Times

Chris Messina is Calvin's worried older brother, Harry, who finally confirms to Calvin — now concerned that he has gone crazy — that Ruby is not a hallucination.

The New York Times - Arts

Like many inmates who spend decades incarcerated, he has trouble sleeping and sometimes fears he has gone crazy.

The New York Times - Magazine

The cast is filled out by Chris Messina as Calvin's worried older brother, Harry, who finally confirms to Calvin — now concerned that he has gone crazy — that Ruby is not a hallucination.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

He was a Vietnam vet, he had gone crazy.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Our friends thought he had gone crazy buying a house there!" The Miani residence, which can be rented, stands on the water's edge of San Pietro, a tiny island with a rich history.

The New York Times

His parents, believing he had gone crazy, sent him to a mental institution, where, in the course of three stays (he ran away twice), he was given electroshock therapy.

The New Yorker

In another restaurant, in Saint-Tropez, a fellow salema-eater recalls being convinced he had gone crazy, believing he could "see" people's yells and birds' chatter.

Vice

"And I mean, my goodness, he just has gone crazy about that.

The New York Times

"There's certainly an idea that the American financial system has gone crazy," he said in an interview.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he has gone crazy" when describing a marked change in someone's behavior, indicating they are acting irrationally or unpredictably due to stress, trauma, or other factors.

Common error

While "he has gone crazy" is acceptable in many situations, avoid using it in highly formal or professional settings. Opt for more neutral language such as "he is experiencing a mental health crisis" or "he is behaving erratically".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he has gone crazy" primarily functions as a descriptive statement, indicating a change in someone's mental state. It's used to express that an individual is behaving irrationally or has lost control. Ludwig shows the phrase used in various contexts, including news reports and personal narratives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he has gone crazy" is a descriptive expression used to indicate a marked change in someone's behavior, suggesting irrationality or a loss of control. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for various contexts, primarily within news and media. While semantically interchangeable alternatives like "he's lost his mind" and "he's out of his mind" exist, the choice depends on the desired level of formality and the specific nuance to be conveyed. It is crucial to avoid overusing this phrase in highly formal settings and to be mindful of its potential to stigmatize mental health issues. The expression mainly functions as a descriptive statement and has a neutral register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he's lost his mind

Changes the verb and possessive pronoun while maintaining the core meaning.

he's out of his mind

Replaces "gone crazy" with a synonymous phrase indicating irrationality.

he's become deranged

Substitutes a more formal term for "crazy", suggesting a severe mental disturbance.

he's snapped

Uses an informal term to describe a sudden loss of mental control.

he's lost it

Employs a very common, general expression for losing control or sanity.

he's gone mad

Uses a slightly more archaic term, "mad", for crazy.

he's become unhinged

Suggests a loss of emotional stability and control.

he's raving mad

Adds emphasis to the state of madness, indicating extreme irrationality.

he's flipped his lid

Uses a colloquial expression for losing one's temper or sanity.

he's not in his right mind

Indicates that the person is not thinking or behaving rationally.

FAQs

What does "he has gone crazy" mean?

The phrase "he has gone crazy" means that someone has become irrational, unreasonable, or mentally unstable, often due to extreme stress or emotional distress.

What can I say instead of "he has gone crazy"?

You can use alternatives like "he has lost his mind", "he is out of his mind", or "he has become deranged" depending on the context.

Is "he has gone crazy" a formal or informal expression?

"He has gone crazy" is considered an informal expression and is best suited for casual conversations or less formal writing. In more formal contexts, consider using alternatives that convey a similar meaning with greater nuance.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "he has gone crazy"?

It is appropriate to use "he has gone crazy" when you want to emphasize a sudden or significant change in someone's behavior that suggests a loss of mental control or rationality. However, be mindful of the context and audience, as it may be considered insensitive or stigmatizing in certain situations.