Comments on: Nothing Wrong with “went missing” http://www.dailywritingtips.com/nothing-wrong-with-%e2%80%9cwent-missing%e2%80%9d/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:11:50 -0500 hourly 1 By: Ian http://www.dailywritingtips.com/nothing-wrong-with-%e2%80%9cwent-missing%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-182659 Ian Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:12:31 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=3011#comment-182659 What's wrong with "went missing"? Do those who find it grating also find fault with the following: To go crazy To go bad [as in, "The milk went bad"; "Put the milk away--it's going to go bad!"] To go haywire [as in, "My computer went haywire!"] To go broke [as in, "If I stay with her, I'm going to go broke"] To go dead [as in, "I don't know what happened--we were talking and then the signal just went dead"] ? All are extremely common in colloquial American English (and "to go bad" even makes appearances in formal settings). In that sense, they're perfectly "correct" even if one doesn't like them. What’s wrong with “went missing”? Do those who find it grating also find fault with the following:

To go crazy
To go bad [as in, "The milk went bad"; "Put the milk away--it's going to go bad!"]
To go haywire [as in, "My computer went haywire!"]
To go broke [as in, "If I stay with her, I'm going to go broke"]
To go dead [as in, "I don't know what happened--we were talking and then the signal just went dead"]

?

All are extremely common in colloquial American English (and “to go bad” even makes appearances in formal settings). In that sense, they’re perfectly “correct” even if one doesn’t like them.

]]> By: D Nelson http://www.dailywritingtips.com/nothing-wrong-with-%e2%80%9cwent-missing%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-182638 D Nelson Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:16:29 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=3011#comment-182638 I'm an American and the phrase "gone missing" has always sounded normal to me. After reading this article, however, I think it's going to end up seeming like a Buffyism to my ears. I’m an American and the phrase “gone missing” has always sounded normal to me. After reading this article, however, I think it’s going to end up seeming like a Buffyism to my ears.

]]> By: Jon http://www.dailywritingtips.com/nothing-wrong-with-%e2%80%9cwent-missing%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-180406 Jon Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:42:22 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=3011#comment-180406 I'd forgotten it was that long ago, scriveyn. Then again, I've always had one large ocean or another between me and the US. Maybe we could all collectively start an urban legend about the phrase "going postal" dating back to stagecoach robberies in the Wild West... I’d forgotten it was that long ago, scriveyn. Then again, I’ve always had one large ocean or another between me and the US.

Maybe we could all collectively start an urban legend about the phrase “going postal” dating back to stagecoach robberies in the Wild West…

]]> By: Dee http://www.dailywritingtips.com/nothing-wrong-with-%e2%80%9cwent-missing%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-180382 Dee Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:48:32 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=3011#comment-180382 Tony- I think "going AWOL" sounds more modern in the US. I associate it more with Vietnam than WWII, myself. Tony- I think “going AWOL” sounds more modern in the US. I associate it more with Vietnam than WWII, myself.

]]> By: scriveyn http://www.dailywritingtips.com/nothing-wrong-with-%e2%80%9cwent-missing%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-180198 scriveyn Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:31:33 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=3011#comment-180198 Thanks Jon - yes, I meant to point out the similar construction. And then of course, I never was one to resist a pun. ;) Incidentally, I found out that the going postal phrase has a real and quite recent (1986) background in a series of workplace violence that started in post offices in the US. Thanks Jon – yes, I meant to point out the similar construction. And then of course, I never was one to resist a pun. ;)
Incidentally, I found out that the going postal phrase has a real and quite recent (1986) background in a series of workplace violence that started in post offices in the US.

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