a fault of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fault of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is the responsibility or cause of a problem or error. Example: "The delay in the project was a fault of poor communication among team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

That was a fault of mine".

The New York Times - Sports

That could be a fault of the translation.

Independent

It plays into the false and pernicious narrative that poverty is somehow a fault of desire, a fault of intelligence, a fault of skills.

The Guardian - Opinion

So that's not really a fault of anything.

Cornell University

Perhaps Mr Obama's uncompromising tone was not a fault of the speech, but a deliberate provocation.

The Economist

By a fault of timing, he is the forever crasher, the automatic odd man out.

The New Yorker

Porath agrees, but cautions to start by listing a fault of your own.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

There is a fault line of race that is cracking wide open in America.

Huffington Post

The Israeli and Palestinian conflict, in particular, embodies a fault line of contested history, disputed entitlements and power differentials.

Conflict and Health

"On reflection I could have been there for her a lot more, which is probably a big fault of mine".

BBC

The cause of this failure may be due to a whole plate being contaminated before the assay, or due to a technical fault of the measurement system.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a fault of", ensure it's clear what the fault is attributed to. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a fault of" without specifying what exactly is at fault. For example, instead of saying "It was a fault of the system", specify what aspect of the system was faulty: "It was a fault of the system's outdated security protocols".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fault of" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. It attributes the cause or origin of a problem, error, or shortcoming to a specific entity. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

32%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Huffington Post

6%

BBC

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a fault of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to attribute blame or identify the origin of a problem. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide usage across diverse contexts. While the phrase is commonly found in neutral registers, its primary function is to assign responsibility. When using the phrase, it's best to be specific to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "a failing of", "a shortcoming of", and "a mistake of" can be used depending on the specific shade of meaning you intend to convey. The high frequency of "a fault of" in reliable sources underscores its importance for analytical and explanatory writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a failing of

This alternative directly replaces 'fault' with 'failing', emphasizing a deficiency or weakness.

a shortcoming of

Replaces 'fault' with 'shortcoming', highlighting an inadequacy or defect.

a mistake of

Substitutes 'fault' with 'mistake', focusing on an error or incorrect action.

an error of

Uses 'error' instead of 'fault', emphasizing an inaccuracy or deviation from what is correct.

a defect of

Replaces 'fault' with 'defect', suggesting an imperfection or flaw.

a weakness of

Replaces 'fault' with 'weakness', emphasizing a lack of strength or resilience.

a responsibility of

Shifts the focus to accountability, indicating that someone or something is responsible for the issue.

an attribute of

This phrase is slightly different because attribute is more neutral than fault, describing a characteristic, which can be positive or negative.

a consequence of

Indicates that the issue is a result or outcome of something else, rather than an inherent flaw.

due to

Expresses cause and effect, highlighting the reason behind the problem.

FAQs

How can I use "a fault of" in a sentence?

Use "a fault of" to attribute blame or responsibility for a mistake, error, or deficiency. Example: "The project's failure was "a fault of" poor planning and communication".

What are some alternatives to "a fault of"?

Alternatives include "a failing of", "a shortcoming of", or "a mistake of", depending on the context.

Is it always negative to describe something as "a fault of"?

Yes, using "a fault of" typically implies a negative judgment or criticism, as it highlights a problem or deficiency. However, the focus is to identify the origin of the mistake/problem instead of describing the mistake/problem itself.

What's the difference between "a fault of" and "due to"?

"A fault of" attributes blame or responsibility to someone or something for a problem, while "due to" simply indicates the cause of something without necessarily assigning blame. "The delay was "a fault of" the manager" implies the manager is responsible, while "the delay was "due to" unforeseen circumstances" is a neutral statement of causation.