Gone vs become extinct

6 replies

CheshireSplat · 30/12/2022 04:48

I've always said "become extinct" but newspapers say "gone extinct" now. It just sounds wrong to me, like really really wrong and it annoys me disproportionately.

When did this change, why and is it correct? I am struggling to think about it grammatically as it grates so badly, so I was hoping someone else would do the hard work for me!

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emmetgirl · 30/12/2022 05:19

YES! I completely agree. Every time I hear someone say "gone extinct" I want to scream "it's BECOME extinct!"
It boils my piss!

ncqtime · 30/12/2022 05:21

One syllable vs two...

Malariahilaria · 30/12/2022 05:23

Agree. Gone extinct is a little bit like 'what he done' in my head.

SignOnTheWindow · 30/12/2022 05:35

Malariahilaria · 30/12/2022 05:23

Agree. Gone extinct is a little bit like 'what he done' in my head.

Yes!

PAFMO · 30/12/2022 08:31

Interesting article here about go/become + extinct.

TL:DR: both are correct, "become" is still more common, "go" is being used with its meaning of "become" (go blind, go mad etc) Etymology of "become" makes it the more formal choice.

www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2010/06/is-this-species-of-english-extinct.html

Interestingly, the article notes that the Oxford dictionary doesn't offer "go + extinct" as a set phrase (or didn't when it was written) but the Oxford Collocations Dictionary (as well as others) does.

Original poster

CheshireSplat · 30/12/2022 21:42

Pafmo thank you.

I do say going blind and going mad😀 Interesting.

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