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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

what's gone
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

What's gone wrong?Some of McDonald's problems stem from operational mishaps across the world.

News & Media

The Economist

"I honestly don't know what's gone on this morning, I've missed all of what's happened.

News & Media

BBC

What's gone wrong?

News & Media

The New York Times

That's what's gone".

News & Media

The Guardian

What's gone right?

News & Media

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"What's gone wrong?" I thought.

News & Media

The Guardian - Arts

July 8 , 2014So what's gone wrong?

News & Media

The Guardian - Business

"What's gone on before won't be tolerated".

News & Media

The New York Times

So what's gone wrong with the regulators?

News & Media

The Guardian

"What's gone?" my 12-year-old daughter, Clementine, asked.

News & Media

The New York Times

"Clearly… [Xi] is saying: 'What's gone before isn't working.

News & Media

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what's gone" in the specific idiomatic context of "what's gone wrong" when analyzing a business or political failure. This construction is extremely common in journalistic headlines to engage the reader's curiosity

Common error

A frequent mistake is writing "what's went". The contraction "what's" stands for "what has", which requires the past participle "gone" rather than the simple past "went". Always ensure the verb following the auxiliary is in its participle form

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

93%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what's gone" typically functions as a subject or an object clause within a sentence. In most Ludwig examples, it acts as the opening of an interrogative sentence or a relative clause referring to previous events. It utilizes the contracted form of the auxiliary verb "has" to form the present perfect tense, indicating an action that began in the past and has relevance to the present.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Professional

10%

Science

Less common in

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Academic

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Analysis of the Ludwig database reveals that "what's gone" is a staple of modern English journalism, appearing 58 times in high-authority sources. Its most powerful application is in the phrase "what's gone wrong?", which serves as a universal hook for analytical articles. While it is grammatically sound, writers should be mindful of the register; the contraction is perfectly suited for news and media but should be expanded in academic or formal business contexts. The phrase effectively bridges the gap between past events and their current consequences, making it an essential tool for descriptive and investigative writing.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what has gone

Removes the contraction for a more formal and academic tone

what happened

Focuses on the event or occurrence rather than the resulting state

what went wrong

Specific to investigating a failure or negative outcome

what has transpired

A more formal and professional way to describe past events

what is missing

Used when "what's gone" implies a physical absence or theft

what has occurred

A neutral and precise alternative for news or scientific reporting

what is lost

Emphasizes the permanent nature of the absence

what has passed

Often refers to time or events that have finished

what was taken

Suggests an external action caused the absence

what's been

Focuses on a continuous state rather than a completed action

FAQs

How do I use "what's gone" in a sentence?

You can use it to ask about a problem, like in "what's gone wrong?", or to refer to the past, as in "building on "what has gone before"".

Is "what's gone" formal enough for an essay?

In formal academic writing, it is better to avoid contractions. Use "what has gone" or "what is gone" to maintain a professional tone.

What is the difference between "what's gone" and "what happened"?

"What's gone" often focuses on the current state of absence or the trail of a process, while "what happened" refers more broadly to any event in the past.

Which is correct, "what's gone" or "what's went"?

Only "what's gone" is grammatically correct. Since the contraction represents "what has", it must be followed by the past participle "gone" and never the past tense "went".

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

93%

Authority and reliability

4.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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what's goneGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

what's gone
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples