a chain of failures

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a chain of failures" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a series of interconnected failures that lead to a larger problem or outcome. Example: "The project was ultimately unsuccessful due to a chain of failures in communication and planning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

However, as the coroner has concluded today, there was a chain of failures which contributed to their death.

The Guardian

Under leading case law, Justice says, such a chain of failures can demonstrate egregious conduct rising to gross negligence.

Harvard Business Review

Typically, prison represents not the ultimate deterrent for hardcore young criminals, but one link in a chain of failures in social policy and social care.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the Weaver acquisition, in a three-way trade with Detroit and Oakland, set in motion a chain of failures the Yankees hope to reverse with the signings of C. C. Sabathia and A. J. Burnett this season.

The New York Times

A coroner has raised concerns about mental healthcare for new mothers after a woman jumped off a cliff clutching her baby girl following a "chain of failures" by medical staff.

The Guardian

PARIS — The French automaker Renault dismissed its chief operating officer and six others after internal and external audits showed a "chain of failures" in the events that led to the unjust accusations of spying against three of its employees.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Francis's x-ray of the NHS highlights a chain of failure – in hospitals, in layers of health service oversight, by regulators and by professional bodies.

The Guardian - Opinion

The likelihood of this hazard causing a chain of failure events plays an imperative role in risk assessment.

Composite Structures

PAGE C1 BANKING CRISIS CROSSES ATLANTIC The turmoil that has rocked the United States banking system has spread to Europe, buffeting institutions in at least four countries with a chain of new failures.

The New York Times

That is when a souped-up, toxic variety of the securitized mortgages that Mr. Fink helped design years earlier at First Boston imploded — setting off a chain of bank failures and the deepest global economic downturn since the Great Depression.

The New York Times

[C4.] Report Examines Blackout Causes The lights went out across a broad swath of North America on Aug. 14 because controllers at FirstEnergy, an Ohio power company, were flying blind, relying on bad information from broken computers and failed to react to a chain of equipment failures, a panel of government and industry officials reported.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a chain of failures", ensure the context clearly establishes how the failures are linked and contribute to the overall negative outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "a chain of failures" as a general term for multiple failures. Clearly specify how each failure in the chain leads to the next to maintain clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a chain of failures" functions as a noun phrase, acting as a subject complement or object within a sentence. It identifies a specific series of interconnected negative outcomes, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a chain of failures" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a series of interconnected negative outcomes, often with a clear cause-and-effect relationship. While Ludwig identifies it as an uncommon phrase, it appears across various contexts, including news media, science, and academia. Alternative phrases like "a series of failures" or "a sequence of failures" offer similar meanings. When employing this phrase, ensure the connections between the failures are clear. As supported by Ludwig AI's analysis, the expression's versatility makes it a useful tool in describing complex situations where multiple failures contribute to a larger negative outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a series of failures

Replaces "chain" with "series", emphasizing a sequence of failures.

a sequence of failures

Substitutes "chain" with "sequence", highlighting the ordered nature of the failures.

a string of failures

Uses "string" instead of "chain", maintaining the idea of interconnected events.

a succession of failures

Replaces "chain" with "succession", indicating one failure following another.

a cascade of failures

Implies a more dramatic and escalating series of failures.

a litany of failures

Suggests a long and often recited list of failures.

a trail of failures

Presents failures as a consequence or a path left behind.

a catalog of failures

Emphasizes a comprehensive and detailed listing of failures.

an accumulation of failures

Focuses on the growing number of failures.

a compounding of failures

Highlights how the failures build upon and worsen each other.

FAQs

What does "a chain of failures" mean?

The phrase "a chain of failures" describes a series of interconnected failures, where one failure leads to another, resulting in a significant negative outcome. It implies a cause-and-effect relationship among the failures.

How can I use "a chain of failures" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe events where multiple failures are linked. For example: "The project's collapse was due to "a chain of failures" in planning and execution."

What are some alternatives to "a chain of failures"?

Alternatives include "a series of failures", "a sequence of failures", or "a string of failures" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "a chain of failure" grammatically correct?

While "a chain of failure" (singular) is grammatically correct and can refer to a single instance of cascading failure, "a chain of failures" (plural) is typically used when referring to multiple interconnected failures.