went up

USAGE SUMMARY

'went up' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate an increase in something. For example, "The stock price went up after positive earnings were released."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The markets went up.

The New York Times

Everyone's hand went up.

The New York Times

Another cheer went up.

The New Yorker

Leave!" went up.

The New Yorker

"Productivity went up.

The New York Times - Arts

Skirt lengths went up.

The New York Times

Mine went up.

The New York Times

He went up again.

The New Yorker

"The hand went up.

The New York Times

"The price went up.

The New York Times - Health

The polls went up.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "went up" to describe literal upward movement, like "He went up the stairs", or metaphorical increases, like "The company's profits went up this quarter".

Common error

While "went up" is perfectly acceptable in general writing, avoid overusing it in formal or academic contexts. Consider substituting with alternatives like "increased" or "rose" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

"Went up" functions primarily as a verb phrase, specifically the simple past tense of the phrasal verb "go up". It describes an action that occurred in the past, indicating an increase, rise, or upward movement, as demonstrated in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "went up" is a versatile and commonly used verb phrase that serves to indicate an increase, rise, or upward movement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable in various contexts. While predominantly found in news and media, its usage extends to science and business domains. When writing, remember that while acceptable in many situations, more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or highly professional settings. Be mindful of context to ensure appropriate register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increased

Replaces the phrasal verb with a single verb, providing a more concise alternative.

rose

A simpler, single-word verb that conveys the same meaning of ascending or increasing.

ascended

Implies a more formal or literal upward movement or rise.

climbed

Suggests a gradual or effortful increase or upward movement.

surged

Implies a sudden and significant increase.

elevated

Indicates a lifting or raising to a higher position or level.

appreciated

Often used in financial contexts to denote an increase in value.

improved

Signifies an increase in quality or condition.

grew

Emphasizes a gradual increase in size, number, or extent.

expanded

Suggests an increase in scope, size, or coverage.

FAQs

How can I use "went up" in a sentence?

"Went up" is the simple past tense of "go up" and indicates an increase or upward movement. For example, "The price of gas "went up" last week" or "She "went up" the stairs quickly".

What are some alternatives to "went up"?

Depending on the context, you could use "increased", "rose", "ascended", or "climbed" as alternatives to "went up".

Is it correct to say "prices have went up"?

No, the correct phrasing is "prices have gone up". "Went" is the simple past tense, while "gone" is the past participle, which is needed after "have".

When should I use "went up" versus "gone up"?

Use "went up" when you're describing a completed action in the past (e.g., "The temperature "went up" yesterday"). Use "gone up" when you're talking about a past action that has a present result or relevance (e.g., "Prices have "gone up" recently").