a breakdown

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a breakdown" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a physical (as in a car breakdown) or mental (as in a nervous breakdown) breakdown, or a situation in which something has been split down into its component parts in order to analyze it (as in a breakdown of the voting demographics in an election). Example: The report provided a detailed breakdown of the monthly expenses.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A breakdown?

The New Yorker

He had a breakdown.

The New Yorker

Here is a breakdown.

The New York Times

Here's a breakdown.

Independent

That's a breakdown in capitalism".

The New York Times

Instead, he had a breakdown.

The New Yorker

Whatever, a breakdown ensued.

The Guardian - Books

"You're having a breakdown".

The Guardian

Kroll suffered a breakdown.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Many experience a breakdown.

The Guardian

Is it a breakdown?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In professional reporting, use "a breakdown" to signal that you are about to transition from a broad summary to specific, granular details.

Common error

Do not use "a breakdown" as a synonym for "a breakup" when referring to the end of a romantic relationship. While "a breakdown" describes the failure of communication or trust within the relationship, a breakup refers specifically to the act of ending it. Use the terms distinctly to maintain narrative clarity.

Linguistic Context

As a noun phrase, "a breakdown" functions as either a subject or an object within a sentence. In the data provided by Ludwig, it frequently acts as the direct object of verbs like "provide", "give", or "suffer", or as the subject in descriptions of systemic failures. According to Ludwig AI, it is fully correct and highly adaptable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "a breakdown" is a high-utility noun phrase that is universally accepted in written English. Ludwig data shows that it serves three primary functions: describing the deconstruction of data (such as a budget or demographic), reporting systemic or mechanical failures (such as a communication lapse or engine trouble), and noting psychological distress. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and versatility. Writers should be careful to specify what is being broken down to maintain clarity, particularly when moving between technical and emotional contexts. Its frequent appearance in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability as a bridge between broad concepts and specific details.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an analysis

Focuses on the intellectual examination of components rather than the mere separation of parts

an itemization

Specifically refers to the listing of individual points or costs in a series

a collapse

Emphasizes the sudden and total failure of a system or structure

a malfunction

Used specifically for technical or mechanical failure in machinery

a decomposition

Often used in scientific contexts to describe breaking something down into elemental parts

a detailed list

Provides a simpler, less formal description of partitioned information

a disruption

Highlights the interruption of an established process or flow

a classification

Focuses on the grouping of items by type rather than the act of breaking them down

a categorization

Emphasizes the organizational aspect of dividing information

a mental health crisis

Provides a more contemporary clinical alternative for the psychological context

FAQs

How do I use "a breakdown" in a sentence?

You can use "a breakdown" to describe a detailed analysis, such as "The report provided "a detailed breakdown" of the budget", or a failure, such as "There was "a breakdown in negotiations" between the two parties."

What is the difference between "a breakdown" and "a summary"?

While "a summary" condenses information into a brief overview, "a breakdown" does the opposite by deconstructing information into its smallest constituent parts for closer inspection.

Can I use "an analysis" instead of "a breakdown"?

Yes, in academic or professional contexts, "an analysis" is a more formal alternative that implies a deeper intellectual evaluation of the partitioned data.

Is it correct to say "having a breakdown" for stress?

Yes, it is a common idiom to describe a period of intense mental distress or "emotional exhaustion", though in clinical writing, more specific terms like a "mental health crisis" may be preferred.