a significant breakdown of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant breakdown of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a major failure or disruption in a system, process, or situation. Example: "The report highlighted a significant breakdown of communication between departments, leading to project delays."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

That the order was openly flouted suggested a significant breakdown of military discipline.

The New York Times

Brad Hintz, a securities analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, summed it up this way, "Merrill's $4.5 billion write-down is significantly higher than that of its peers and represents a significant breakdown of the firm's risk management process".

The New York Times

Entwistle admitted there was "a significant breakdown of communications" but said he had acted quickly once he became aware of a dispute and called in BBC Scotland director Ken MacQuarrie to talk to the journalists involved to get their version of the story.

The Guardian

This treatment period results in a significant breakdown of tumor vessels in A431 tumors as previously observed [18, 19].

EJNMMI Research

This nation is suffering a significant breakdown of civility, bipartisanship and ethical behavior.

HuffPost

Huettner added that the concentration of the chemicals or active ingredients in these topical products typically aren't high enough to result in a significant breakdown of the collagen structures under the skin that give it the cobblestone appearance.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Status dissociaticus represents a significant breakdown in the clinical and polysomnographic markers of the three states of being (that is, REM sleep, NREM sleep, and wakefulness) [ 49].

Critical Care

"Something that all of us, all five doctors, thought was remarkable was that his skin was in very good, in fact excellent, condition, considering he had been bedridden for over a year," Sammarco said: No bed sores, no significant breakdown of the skin, no pressure sores.

The Washington Post

It appears that even in patients at a late stage of empyema, IPSTK resulted in significant breakdown of loculations.

BMC Infectious Diseases

By using LI-CM we intended to mimic the in vivo condition of late-stage pathology, when gliomas cause significant breakdown of the BBB (Wolburg et al., 2012); as a consequence, circulating immune cells not normally found in the CNS invade the tumor and release factors promoting the pro-inflammatory activation of glioma cells (Zhan and Lu., 2012).

ASN Neuro

The failure of annexin-based apoptosis assessment in vivo can be explained by the significant breakdown of the vasculature after therapy, resulting in reduced probe/tracer delivery.

EJNMMI Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "a significant breakdown of" with specific data or examples to illustrate the severity and impact of the breakdown. This provides concrete evidence and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "a significant breakdown of" without specifying the system, process, or entity affected. Vague statements weaken the impact and leave readers unclear about the actual issue. Provide specifics.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant breakdown of" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a situation where a system, process, or structure has experienced a major failure. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a significant breakdown of" is a phrase used to describe a serious failure or disruption. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English. While the phrase appears in both scientific and journalistic sources, its specific and somewhat technical nature makes it more suited for professional writing. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly specify what is failing and provide context to demonstrate the extent of the failure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major failure of

Replaces 'breakdown' with 'failure', indicating a lack of success or functionality.

a substantial collapse of

Substitutes 'breakdown' with 'collapse', suggesting a sudden and complete failure.

a severe disruption to

Replaces the idea of 'breakdown' with 'disruption', focusing on the interruption of a process or system.

a marked deterioration in

Uses 'deterioration' instead of 'breakdown', emphasizing a decline in quality or condition.

a considerable lapse in

Employs 'lapse' to indicate a temporary failure or decline.

a critical flaw in

Focuses on the presence of a 'flaw' leading to failure, rather than the process of breaking down.

a serious compromise of

Uses 'compromise' to suggest a weakening or undermining of something's integrity.

a notable decline in

Substitutes 'breakdown' with 'decline', referring to a gradual decrease or weakening.

a significant decay of

Replaces 'breakdown' with 'decay', highlighting a gradual process of decomposition or decline.

a fundamental rupture in

Emphasizes the idea of a 'rupture', suggesting a sudden and forceful break or separation.

FAQs

How can I use "a significant breakdown of" in a sentence?

You can use "a significant breakdown of" to describe a serious failure or disruption. For example, "The investigation revealed "a significant breakdown of" communication within the team, leading to project delays".

What can I say instead of "a significant breakdown of"?

You can use alternatives like "a major failure of", "a substantial collapse of", or "a severe disruption to" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a significant breakdown of" in formal writing?

Yes, "a significant breakdown of" is appropriate for formal writing. However, ensure that the context supports the seriousness implied by the phrase, and consider if a more precise term might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "a significant breakdown of" and "a minor lapse in"?

"A significant breakdown of" implies a serious and substantial failure, while "a minor lapse in" suggests a small, temporary error or failure. The choice depends on the severity of the situation you're describing.