a communication breakdown

USAGE SUMMARY

'a communication breakdown' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe a situation in which two (or more) people are having difficulty understanding or effectively communicating with each other. For example: "Due to a communication breakdown, the team struggled to make progress on the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

"It's possible that there was a communication breakdown," Berger acknowledged to me.

The New Yorker

There seem to have been a communication breakdown involving directional data.

The Guardian

Mr. Brown chalked it up to a communication breakdown that could have been avoided with a face-to-face chat.

The New York Times

Southampton had shown from the start they fancied their chances and were encouraged, perhaps, by a communication breakdown between Smalling and De Gea inside the opening minute.

The Guardian - Sport

Ms. Bair said one reason for this lapse may have been a communication breakdown between the risk committee of the Wells Fargo board and its human resources committee.

The New York Times

A communication breakdown occurred between the Smithfields and Rudfurd surrounding the repair of the hole and Mr. Smithfield has filed a claim in small claims court.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

But the remarks from Evanina and Krebs show that a potential communication breakdown remains a top concern.

The Washington Post

There was a massive communication breakdown and the two sides of the garage didn't speak to one another.

BBC

Even after M'Neill alerted police, a subsequent communication breakdown within the department led to additional delays.

Huffington Post

If someone is crying then there's been a major communication breakdown somewhere in the company.

Huffington Post

No wonder the American political system is suffering from an epic communication breakdown.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the consequences of "a communication breakdown", be specific about the impact. Instead of saying 'it caused problems', detail the exact issues that arose, such as 'it led to project delays and increased costs'.

Common error

Avoid using "a communication breakdown" as a vague explanation for problems. Always specify the parties involved, the information that was lost or misinterpreted, and the resulting consequences to provide a clear and actionable understanding of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a communication breakdown" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a specific situation where communication has failed or been severely impaired. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

12%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a communication breakdown" is a commonly used and grammatically correct noun phrase that describes a failure in communication. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides numerous real-world examples. It's prevalent in various contexts, especially in news and media, and serves to identify and explain situations where effective communication has been compromised. While alternatives like "miscommunication" or "failure to communicate" exist, "a communication breakdown" remains a widely understood and accepted way to describe such situations. When using the phrase, remember to provide specific details about the context and consequences to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a failure to communicate

Replaces "breakdown" with a more general term, "failure", emphasizing the lack of successful communication.

a miscommunication

A more concise term directly indicating flawed or ineffective communication.

a lapse in communication

Substitutes "breakdown" with "lapse", suggesting a temporary interruption or error in communication.

a misunderstanding

Focuses on the lack of shared understanding as the core issue.

a disconnect

Highlights a gap or lack of connection between parties, leading to communication problems.

a failure of coordination

Emphasizes the lack of coordinated effort in sharing information.

a lack of clarity

Points to the absence of clear and easily understandable information.

an information gap

Highlights a deficiency in the availability or sharing of necessary information.

a crossed signal

Suggests conflicting or misinterpreted signals that hinder effective communication.

a distortion of information

Focuses on the inaccuracy or misrepresentation of information being conveyed.

FAQs

How can I use "a communication breakdown" in a sentence?

You can use "a communication breakdown" to describe situations where there is a failure to effectively exchange information, such as "The project failed due to "a communication breakdown" between the teams".

What are some alternatives to "a communication breakdown"?

Alternatives include "misunderstanding", "miscommunication", or "failure to communicate", depending on the specific context.

Is "communication breakdown" one word or two?

"Communication breakdown" is two words. "Breakdown" functions as a noun following the noun "communication".

What causes "a communication breakdown"?

"A communication breakdown" can be caused by various factors, including unclear messaging, lack of active listening, differing communication styles, or technical difficulties.