went into a coma

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "went into a coma" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about someone who had a medical condition and lost consciousness for an extended period of time. For example: "After suffering a brain injury, the patient went into a coma for two weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She went into a coma.

Independent

He went into a coma Thursday and never regained consciousness.

The New York Times

"I went into a coma at first," she said.

The New York Times

Days later, he went into a coma, and he was paralyzed permanently.

The New York Times

Three days later, Stokes, who was 24, went into a coma.

The New York Times - Sports

But he modified this practice after one patient went into a coma for a month.

The New Yorker

As well, she went into a coma and she died one hour before I arrived.

The New Yorker

He later went into a coma but has recovered to reach the Olympics.

The New York Times

Wendy went into a coma at 5pm on a Friday evening.

Independent

Her heart stopped beating, and she went into a coma and died several weeks later.

The New York Times

She went into a coma, was transferred to Lenox Hill Hospital, and never recovered.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "went into a coma", ensure the context clearly indicates a medical condition or a serious event that led to the state of unconsciousness. Avoid using it metaphorically.

Common error

Avoid using "went into a coma" to describe situations that are not related to a medical or serious condition. For example, do not say "The project went into a coma" to mean it stalled. Instead, use more appropriate terms like "stalled", "halted", or "became dormant".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "went into a coma" functions as a verbal phrase, specifically a verb followed by a prepositional phrase. It describes the process of entering a state of prolonged unconsciousness. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is accurate and provides numerous examples from reliable sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "went into a coma" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe someone entering a state of prolonged unconsciousness, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It’s frequently used in news and media to report on medical events or serious incidents. While primarily neutral in tone, its use is best reserved for contexts involving genuine medical conditions, avoiding metaphorical applications to prevent insensitivity or miscommunication. Alternatives like "fell into a coma" or "lapsed into a coma" offer similar meanings with slight differences in nuance. The high frequency and reliable source backing underscores its validity and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fell into a coma

Replaces "went" with "fell", indicating a similar sudden transition into a state of unconsciousness.

lapsed into a coma

Uses "lapsed" to suggest a gradual or subtle entry into a coma.

became comatose

Transforms the phrase into an adjectival description of the person's state.

lost consciousness and entered a coma

Elaborates on the process, specifying both the loss of consciousness and the entry into a coma.

slipped into unconsciousness

Focuses on the loss of consciousness rather than specifically mentioning a coma.

was in a coma

Focuses on the state of being in a coma, rather than the action of entering it.

experienced a coma

Highlights the coma as an experience or event that the person underwent.

succumbed to a coma

Implies that the person was unable to fight off the condition leading to the coma.

became unresponsive

Describes the state of being unresponsive, which is a general symptom of being in a coma.

entered a state of prolonged unconsciousness

Provides a more detailed and clinical description of the situation.

FAQs

How is "went into a coma" used in a sentence?

It describes a state where someone loses consciousness for an extended period due to illness, injury, or other medical reasons. For example, "After the accident, the patient "went into a coma"".

What are some alternatives to "went into a coma"?

Alternatives include "fell into a coma", "lapsed into a coma", or "became comatose", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "went into a coma" metaphorically?

While technically understandable, using "went into a coma" metaphorically can be insensitive and is generally discouraged. It's better to use more appropriate terms like "stalled", "halted", or "became dormant" when describing non-medical situations.

What's the difference between ""went into a coma"" and "was in a coma"?

"Went into a coma" describes the action of entering the state, whereas "was in a coma" describes the state itself. The former focuses on the transition, while the latter focuses on the condition.