that went missing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that went missing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has disappeared or cannot be found. Example: "The keys that went missing last week have finally been found under the couch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ten points if you can spot the word that went missing.

Independent

It avoids blaming him directly for the customer money that went missing, Mr. Protess writes.

The New York Times

But this is said to be a mere fraction of the money that went missing.

The Economist

Unlike so many farewell tours, it was the tour, not the farewell, that went missing.

Independent

Christianity began with a crucified body that went missing – but was it really a Jewish body?

The Guardian - Books

One of the things that went missing in the shadow of that volcanic dust was a sense of human power.

The Economist

A dog that went missing at sea for four days has been found alive - swimming a mile away from the shore.

Independent

Democrats are up in arms about thousands of absentee ballots that went missing in the post in Broward County, Florida a crucial Democratic bastion.

The Economist

Perhaps it will test our patience and stamina yet again, and perhaps it will bring the January thaw that went missing this year.

The New York Times

Teams of up to nine people, with tracker dogs, had searched, sometimes for weeks, for each of the 37 birds that went missing.

The Guardian

A $54m lawsuit over a pair of pinstriped trousers that went missing from a Washington, DC, cleaners was thrown out by a judge this week.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that went missing", ensure the context clearly indicates what is missing and the circumstances surrounding its disappearance. For instance, specify whether it was lost, stolen, or simply misplaced.

Common error

Avoid using "that went missing" without clearly identifying what "that" refers to. Ambiguous references can confuse the reader. Instead of saying, "The item that went missing caused concern", be specific: "The original manuscript that went missing caused concern."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that went missing" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun or pronoun by providing additional information about something that has disappeared. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a standard and acceptable usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Science

6%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that went missing" is a grammatically correct and frequently used relative clause. As Ludwig AI underlines, this phrase effectively describes something that has disappeared. It appears most commonly in news and media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, ensure the context is clear and the antecedent is well-defined to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases include "that disappeared" and "that was lost".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that disappeared

Focuses on the action of vanishing, lacking the implication of being sought after.

that was lost

Emphasizes the state of being unrecoverable, implying no current knowledge of its whereabouts.

that was misplaced

Suggests temporary loss, often due to carelessness or disorganization.

that turned up missing

Highlights the unexpected discovery that something is not where it should be.

that had vanished

Implies a sudden and mysterious disappearance.

that was unaccounted for

Emphasizes the lack of explanation or record for something's absence.

that could not be found

Focuses on the inability to locate something after a search.

that strayed

Suggests something wandered off unintentionally

that was gone

Simply states the absence of something, without specifying the reason.

that was stolen

Implies that something was taken illegally or without permission.

FAQs

How can I use "that went missing" in a sentence?

Use "that went missing" to describe something which has disappeared or cannot be found. For example, "The file "that went missing" contained critical data".

What are some alternatives to "that went missing"?

You can use alternatives like "that disappeared", "that was lost", or "that was misplaced" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "that goes missing" instead of "that went missing"?

While "that goes missing" can be grammatically correct in certain contexts (e.g. describing a recurring event), ""that went missing"" is typically used to refer to a specific past event.

What's the difference between "that was missing" and "that went missing"?

"That was missing" describes a state of absence, while ""that went missing"" describes the action of disappearing. The choice depends on whether you emphasize the state or the event.