went broken

USAGE SUMMARY

"went broken" is not correct and usable in written English.
You could say "broke" or "went wrong" instead. Example: The computer suddenly went wrong and the screen went black.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Many nonmilitant Palestinians gave up on the peace effort long ago; too many Israeli promises went broken, several said.

The New York Times

"All of the walls in front of me went broken," said Chen Ping Zhou, a 35-year Chinese man with a bandage on his forehead.

The New York Times

Four (6%) dispensers went broken.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

I.S.L. went broke owing $300 million.

The New York Times - Sports

As they say, nobody ever went broke taking profits.

The New York Times

Hicks failed to buy a World Series, but he nearly went broke trying.

The New York Times - Sports

The little railroad went broke a few years later.

Wikipedia

The projector may be long gone, broken.

Huffington Post

His going broke my heart.

The Guardian

Gone broke, receivers in, dadadada.

The Guardian - Business

"We're going broke," she said.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "went broken" in formal writing. Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "became broken" or "was broken" to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "went" with "broken" as if "broken" were an action. Remember that "broken" describes a state, not an action. Use "broke" as the verb instead, for example, "the vase broke".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "went broken" functions as a verb phrase + adjective, attempting to describe a process leading to a state of being broken. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this construction is grammatically incorrect in standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "went broken" might be encountered, it's grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI highlights this issue, suggesting alternatives like "became broken" or "was broken" for improved clarity and accuracy. The phrase appears rarely, predominantly in news and media contexts, but should be avoided in formal writing. To ensure clear communication, use grammatically sound alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was broken

A simple passive construction indicating that something was in a broken state.

became broken

Replaces the verb "went" with "became", offering a more standard grammatical structure to express the state of being broken.

turned out broken

Uses "turned out" to indicate the result or condition of being broken, often implying an unexpected outcome.

ended up broken

Emphasizes the final state of being broken, suggesting a process or series of events leading to that condition.

resulted in breakage

Shifts the focus to the action that caused the breakage, rather than the state itself.

became faulty

Replaces "broken" with "faulty", suggesting a malfunction or defect rather than physical damage.

stopped working

Focuses on the cessation of function as a result of being broken, rather than the physical state.

malfunctioned

Indicates a failure to function correctly, often used for mechanical or electronic items.

ceased to function

A more formal way of saying "stopped working", emphasizing the end of functionality.

suffered damage

Highlights the experience of damage being inflicted, focusing on the impact rather than the resulting state.

FAQs

What does "went broken" mean?

The phrase "went broken" is not grammatically correct. It attempts to describe the process of something becoming broken, but it's not standard English. Use "became broken" or "was broken" instead.

How can I correctly use "broken" in a sentence?

You can use "broken" as an adjective to describe something in a state of disrepair, such as "the window is broken". Alternatively, use "broke" as the past tense of the verb "break", such as "the window broke".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "went broken"?

Alternatives include "became broken", "was broken", or simply "broke" depending on the intended meaning. For example, instead of "the toy went broken", you could say "the toy broke".

Is it ever correct to say something "went broken"?

While not grammatically standard, the phrase might appear in informal contexts or non-native English. However, for clear and correct communication, it's best to use phrases like "became broken" or "was broken".