things worsened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "things worsened" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation that has deteriorated or become more negative. For example, "After the initial success, things worsened when the funding was cut." Alternative expressions include "the situation deteriorated" and "conditions declined."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Things worsened after Mary's miscarriage.

The New York Times - Books

When the Cultural Revolution began, things worsened.

The New Yorker

Things worsened in 2009 after he enrolled at Minnesota.

The New York Times - Sports

Things worsened when mine owners hired about 150 Chinese workers to replace the striking white miners.

The New York Times

Within a year they had split, and as time progressed things worsened.

The Guardian - Sport

Things worsened as Croydon lost out to the City and Canary Wharf as a business centre.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

If things worsen, warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club could be next.

The New York Times

And if things worsen, cuts can be made without too much difficulty.

The New York Times

But Mr. Niederauer knew it was time to take ICE's offer, and at least they have a deal before things worsen.

The New York Times

The global destruction wrought by a warming climate, the health damage from our over-sugared modern diet, the economic and social disaster of our trillion dollars in unpaid student debt — these things worsen imperceptibly every day.

The New Yorker

But should things worsen, Americans might demand that their generals use the sort of overwhelming force they are now trying to avoid.This might seem far-fetched but it is not.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "things worsened" to describe a broad decline or deterioration in general circumstances. It's suitable for describing events, relationships, or overall conditions.

Common error

While acceptable, "things worsened" can sound informal in highly formal contexts. Consider more precise and sophisticated alternatives like "the situation deteriorated" or "conditions declined" for academic or professional writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "things worsened" primarily functions as a statement indicating a negative change or deterioration in a given situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "things worsened" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe the deterioration of a situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently found in news and media, with occasional use in wiki and formal business contexts. While its meaning is straightforward, alternative phrases like "the situation deteriorated" or "conditions declined" may be more appropriate for formal writing. It is important to notice that "things worsened" should be used carefully in the scientific registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the situation deteriorated

Replaces "things" with "the situation", focusing on the overall circumstances.

the circumstances declined

Substitutes "things" with "the circumstances", highlighting a more formal tone.

matters took a turn for the worse

Uses a more idiomatic expression to indicate a negative change.

the situation spiraled downward

Emphasizes a rapid and uncontrolled decline.

conditions deteriorated

Focuses specifically on the state of affairs becoming worse.

the problem escalated

Highlights an increase in the severity of an existing issue.

troubles increased

Uses a more general term ("troubles") to describe the worsening situation.

the outlook darkened

Employs a metaphorical expression to convey a pessimistic future.

the crisis deepened

Specific to situations involving a crisis, indicating increased severity.

the decline accelerated

Suggests a faster rate of deterioration.

FAQs

What does "things worsened" mean?

The phrase "things worsened" means that a situation or set of circumstances became more negative, difficult, or undesirable. It implies a decline from a previous state.

What can I say instead of "things worsened"?

You can use alternatives like "the situation deteriorated", "conditions declined", or "matters took a turn for the worse" depending on the context.

Is "things worsened" grammatically correct?

Yes, "things worsened" is grammatically correct. "Things" is the subject, and "worsened" is the past tense verb, indicating a completed action of becoming worse.

How to use "things worsened" in a sentence?

You can use "things worsened" in a sentence like this: "Initially, the project seemed promising, but "things worsened" after the key team member left."