what was wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what was wrong" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when inquiring about a problem or issue that occurred in the past. Example: "After reviewing the project, I asked my colleague what was wrong with the initial design."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

So what was wrong?

Independent

But what was wrong?

The New York Times

What was wrong?

The New York Times - Magazine

What was wrong with them?

The New York Times - Magazine

Mary asked what was wrong.

The New York Times

What was wrong with her?

The New Yorker

"I asked what was wrong.

The New Yorker

What was wrong with him?

The New York Times

What was wrong with me?

The New York Times

She asked what was wrong.

The New York Times

PETER: What was wrong?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "what was wrong", ensure the context clearly indicates you're asking about a past issue or problem. For present issues, consider "what is wrong".

Common error

Avoid using "what was wrong" when referring to a current situation. Use "what is wrong" for present issues and "what will be wrong" for future predictions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what was wrong" functions as an interrogative phrase used to inquire about the nature of a past problem or issue. According to Ludwig, it is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what was wrong" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase for inquiring about past issues or problems. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is widely accepted. It is generally neutral in register and primarily found in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the tense aligns with the time frame you are referencing, and consider alternative phrasings like "what was the problem" or "what went wrong" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what was the matter

This alternative replaces "wrong" with "the matter", focusing on the issue at hand.

what was the problem

This alternative uses "problem" instead of "wrong", directly asking about the issue.

what was the issue

This alternative replaces "wrong" with "the issue", a more formal way of asking about the problem.

what went wrong

This alternative focuses on the action that caused the problem, using the verb "went".

what was the difficulty

This alternative uses "difficulty" instead of "wrong", emphasizing the challenge or obstacle.

what was amiss

This alternative uses "amiss", which is a more formal way of asking if something was wrong.

what happened

This is a more general inquiry, asking about the event that led to the issue.

what caused the problem

This alternative focuses on identifying the cause of the problem.

what were the complications

This alternative asks specifically about any complicating factors that contributed to the problem.

what was the snag

This alternative uses "snag", referring to an unexpected or hidden obstacle or problem.

FAQs

How can I use "what was wrong" in a sentence?

You can use "what was wrong" to inquire about a past issue or problem, for example: "I reviewed the report and asked, "what was wrong with the data collection method?""

What's a more formal way to ask "what was wrong"?

More formal alternatives include "what was the issue" or "what was the problem", which are suitable for professional settings.

Is it correct to say "what was wrong" or should I use "what went wrong"?

Both "what was wrong" and "what went wrong" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "What was wrong" implies a state or condition, while "what went wrong" focuses on the process or action that led to the problem.

What can I say instead of "what was wrong" when someone is upset?

In a situation where someone is upset, you could say "what is the matter", "what happened", or "are you okay", depending on the context and your relationship with the person.