went wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

"went wrong" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a situation in which something did not go as planned or expected. For example: "We had high hopes for the project, but unfortunately something went wrong."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Macroeconomics: What went wrong?

The New York Times

That too went wrong.

The Economist

Things went wrong.

The New York Times - Books

How they went wrong.

The New Yorker

Something went wrong".

The New York Times - Sports

What went wrong here?

The New York Times

Things quickly went wrong.

The New Yorker

But something went wrong.

The New York Times

So what went wrong?

The New York Times - Food

Nothing went wrong then.

The Economist

But things went wrong.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "went wrong" to describe unexpected problems or failures in various contexts, from personal projects to global events.

Common error

While versatile, "went wrong" can sound too informal for highly professional or academic writing. In those situations, consider more formal alternatives like "deteriorated", "malfunctioned", or "failed" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "went wrong" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as the predicate of a sentence or clause. It describes a situation where an expected or desired outcome was not achieved, indicating a problem or failure. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is perfectly usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "went wrong" is a versatile and frequently used expression to describe situations where something has failed or deviated from the intended plan. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and understandable in a variety of contexts, it is important to know its potential alternative, like "gone awry", "taken a turn for the worse", or "failed", and to remember that in highly formal contexts more specific vocabulary might be necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gone awry

Replaces "went" with "gone" and "wrong" with "awry", both indicating something deviated from the expected course.

taken a turn for the worse

Indicates a situation deteriorated or became unfavorable.

gone sour

Implies a situation or relationship became unpleasant or unsuccessful.

fallen apart

Suggests something disintegrated or failed to function as intended.

gone haywire

Means something is out of control or malfunctioning.

gone off the rails

Expresses a loss of control or deviation from a planned course.

messed up

A more informal way of saying something was done incorrectly or went wrong.

failed

A straightforward way to say something did not succeed.

didn't work out

Suggests something did not proceed as planned or did not produce the desired result.

gone bad

Similar to "gone sour", indicating spoilage or a negative outcome.

FAQs

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

You can use "went wrong" to describe situations where something has failed or deviated from the intended course. For example: "The experiment /s/didn't+go+as+planned and something "went wrong" during the procedure."

What are some alternatives to "went wrong"?

Alternatives to "went wrong" include phrases like "gone awry", "taken a turn for the worse", or simply "failed", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "went wrong"?

"Went wrong" is appropriate in a wide range of contexts, from informal conversations to news reports. However, in formal academic papers or business reports, more precise language may be preferred.

Is "went wrong" too informal for professional communication?

While "went wrong" is generally acceptable, consider the audience and context. In very formal settings, alternatives such as "malfunctioned" or "deteriorated" might be more appropriate.