something has gone wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "something has gone wrong" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an unexpected issue or problem has occurred. Example: "After reviewing the project, I realized that something has gone wrong with the calculations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Something has gone wrong in recent years.

The New York Times

Evidently something has gone wrong.

The Guardian - Opinion

Something has gone wrong here.

The Guardian - Opinion

Surely something has gone wrong for Slack?

The Guardian - Tech

Yet Americans seem to realize that something has gone wrong.

The New York Times - Magazine

During the past decade, however, something has gone wrong.

The New Yorker

SOMETHING has gone wrong when financial-market practitioners talk without irony of "moral-hazard plays".

The Economist

"I have been at my best just after something has gone wrong," he said.

The New York Times

Federer vs. del Potro: Something has gone wrong for Juan Martin del Potro on Lenglen.

The New York Times

The minister should not leave it to the courts to decide when something has gone wrong.

The Guardian - Books

What is clear, though, is that something has gone wrong in the Kremlin machinery.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "something has gone wrong" when you want to express that an error, mistake, or problem has occurred, without specifying the exact nature of the issue. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language.

Common error

Avoid using "something has gone wrong" repeatedly in a short span. It can sound vague and repetitive. If possible, try to identify and articulate the specific issue instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "something has gone wrong" functions as an idiomatic expression used to indicate that a problem or error has occurred. It is a general statement that something is not as it should be, without specifying the exact nature of the issue. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "something has gone wrong" is a common and generally neutral expression used to indicate that a problem or error has occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's considered grammatically correct and is widely used across various sources, including news, science, and business contexts. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse and consider more specific alternatives when appropriate. It serves primarily to alert someone to a problem and prompt further investigation. This expression finds itself used across diverse contexts, offering flexibility and wide applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an error has occurred

More formal and direct, emphasizing the presence of a mistake.

there's been a mistake

A more casual way of indicating an error.

a problem has arisen

Highlights the emergence of an issue that needs attention.

things have taken a turn for the worse

Indicates a negative change in circumstances.

there's been a complication

Suggests that an unexpected difficulty has emerged.

an issue has come up

Similar to "a problem has arisen", but slightly more informal.

something isn't right

A vague but common way to express a feeling that there is a problem.

we have a situation

Often used in professional settings to acknowledge a problem that needs to be addressed.

it appears we've encountered a snag

More formal and less alarming, softening the impact of the problem.

everything is not as it should be

A more emphatic way to express a sense of unease about a situation.

FAQs

What's a less vague way to say "something has gone wrong"?

To be less vague, specify the problem. For instance, instead of saying "something has gone wrong", try "an error has occurred" or "the system failed".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "something has gone wrong"?

It's appropriate when you know there's a problem, but you don't yet have the details, or when providing specific details isn't immediately necessary.

Is "something has gone wrong" formal or informal?

The phrase is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it leans slightly toward informal due to its general nature. Choose more specific alternatives like "a discrepancy exists" for highly formal situations.

What can I say instead of "something has gone wrong" in a business context?

In a business context, consider phrases like "there is an issue", "we have encountered a problem", or "there's been a setback" to sound more professional.