something go wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "something go wrong" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "something went wrong" or "something is going wrong." Example: "I was surprised when I realized that something went wrong during the presentation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Or did something go wrong?

Independent

"Did something go wrong?

The New York Times

Can something go wrong?

The Guardian

Or did something go wrong during his training?

Independent

Should something go wrong, Hyundai would fix it.

The New York Times

But once it is in writing, he has to protect himself lest something go wrong.

The New York Times - Magazine

Many midwives have privileges at hospitals, where help is around the corner should something go wrong.

The New York Times

"It's a truth dump, so they are covered should something go wrong".

The New York Times - Health

One day in 2008, Scott Flaherty felt something go wrong in his throat.

The New Yorker

That poses a different set of challenges should something go wrong.

The Washington Post

"It could be good if you do well, or not good if you have something go wrong on Saturday.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To describe an ongoing issue, the correct form is "something is going wrong."

Common error

Avoid using the base form of the verb "go" when referring to past events. Use "went", "has gone", or "is going" instead to maintain grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "something go wrong" functions as an independent clause expressing a potential or realized problem. While grammatically incorrect, its widespread use, as evidenced by Ludwig, suggests it's often understood to mean an issue has occurred or is occurring.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "something go wrong" is widely used, particularly in news, science, and wiki contexts. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct alternatives include "something went wrong", for past occurrences, and "something is going wrong", for current issues. While its frequency suggests it's commonly understood, using grammatically correct alternatives is recommended for formal settings. Remember to avoid the base verb "go" when referring to past or present continuous actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

something went wrong

Changes the verb to the past tense, correcting the grammatical error.

something is going wrong

Uses the present continuous tense to indicate an ongoing issue.

something has gone wrong

Employs the present perfect tense to describe a completed action with present relevance.

a problem occurred

Replaces "something" with "a problem" and uses a more formal verb.

an issue arose

Similar to "a problem occurred" but uses "issue" and "arose" for a slightly different nuance.

there was a problem

Introduces the problem with "there was", making it less direct.

a mistake happened

Uses "mistake" instead of "problem" for a more specific connotation.

something malfunctioned

Implies a mechanical or technical fault.

there's been an error

Uses "error" to suggest a formal or technical mistake.

everything is not okay

Indicates a general sense of something being wrong.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "something go wrong"?

The correct ways to phrase this are "something went wrong", if it's in the past, or "something is going wrong", if it's currently happening.

What does "something go wrong" mean?

It means that an error, problem, or malfunction has occurred or is occurring.

Is "something go wrong" grammatically correct?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The verb tense is incorrect. Use "something went wrong" or "something is going wrong" instead.

What can I say instead of "something go wrong"?

You can use alternatives like "something went wrong", "something is going wrong", or "a problem occurred" depending on the context.