a temporary breakdown of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a temporary breakdown of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a short-term failure or disruption in a system, process, or situation. Example: "The project faced a temporary breakdown of communication between team members, which caused delays in progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But it is fair to say that in some areas for several days and nights, until police numbers increased sufficiently, there was a temporary breakdown of law and order.

The Guardian - Opinion

Destroying most of the cells in either of these compartments in the imaginal disc leads to a temporary breakdown of the corresponding boundary, which is then rapidly reconstructed.

eLife

While cABC treatment offers a temporary breakdown of CSPGs within the glial scar to foster axonal outgrowth, total ablation of the glial scar results in more severe tissue damage [ 12].

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"At the root of these proceedings … is a temporary breakdown in trust," MacDonald said in his ruling.

The Guardian - Music

During this complex and demanding task, the further addition of the CHEX tool to the interface may have exceeded participants' attentional capacity, causing a temporary breakdown in attentional processes and increasing the likelihood that a critical change would be missed.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Subsequent investigation indicated that the potential cross-contact was caused by a temporary breakdown in our 3rd party manufacturer's production and packaging processes.

TechCrunch

Trading on that day "illustrated a sudden, but temporary, breakdown in the market's price-setting function," Ms. Schapiro said in a statement.

The New York Times

Jason Russell, who was hospitalized on March 15 due to "a temporary psychotic breakdown believed to have been brought on by the pressure of the success and criticism of the first film", is not featured in Part II.

Wikipedia

That's because, in an irony so delicious you couldn't make it up, one of the world's leading telecoms shows had a temporary communications breakdown.

The Guardian - Tech

From a practice theoretical perspective, disruptions - temporary breakdowns in the flow of events - are important in understanding the norms, practices and technologies that construct the socially accepted definition of normality[5, 6, 9]: disruptions open up what is actually perceived as normal.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

This is a temporary state of affairs.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and choose synonyms that match the tone. For formal contexts, "provisional cessation" might be appropriate, while informal contexts could use "short-term disruption".

Common error

Avoid using "a temporary breakdown of" when the situation is more severe or permanent. This phrase implies a quick recovery, so choose alternative language if the problem is long-lasting or has lasting consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a temporary breakdown of" functions as a noun phrase, specifically acting as a subject complement or object of a preposition. It describes a state or situation characterized by a brief period of failure or disruption. Ludwig indicates this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a temporary breakdown of" is a noun phrase used to describe a short-term failure or disruption, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is considered grammatically correct and is used across various contexts, particularly in news, media and scientific publications. While "a temporary breakdown of" is not a very common phrase, its meaning is clear and it serves the purpose of explaining a limited disruption in various processes, systems or relationships. For alternative phrasing, consider using "a short-term disruption of" or "a brief interruption of" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a short-term disruption of

Replaces "breakdown" with "disruption" and "temporary" with "short-term", emphasizing the interruption aspect.

a momentary lapse in

Focuses on a brief failure or error, using "lapse" instead of "breakdown".

a brief interruption of

Uses "interruption" to highlight the temporary cessation of a process or function.

a passing failure of

Emphasizes the transient nature of the failure using "passing".

a transient collapse of

Replaces "breakdown" with "collapse" to suggest a sudden loss of function that is short-lived.

a limited disruption to

Highlights the limited scope and impact of the disruption.

a brief suspension of

Focuses on a temporary halting of operations or processes.

a provisional cessation of

Uses more formal language to describe a temporary stop.

a sporadic malfunction in

Suggests an irregular and temporary issue in the functioning of something.

a fleeting interruption to

Emphasizes the very short duration of the interruption.

FAQs

What does "a temporary breakdown of" mean?

The phrase "a temporary breakdown of" refers to a short-lived failure or disruption in a system, process, or relationship. It implies that the issue is not permanent and is expected to be resolved.

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

You can use "a temporary breakdown of" to describe various situations. For example: "The project faced "a temporary breakdown of" communication", or "There was "a temporary breakdown of" law and order after the storm."

What are some alternatives to "a temporary breakdown of"?

Alternatives include "a short-term disruption of", "a momentary lapse in", or "a brief interruption of". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "a temporary breakdown in" grammatically correct?

While "a temporary breakdown of" is standard, "a temporary breakdown in" could be acceptable depending on the specific noun that follows. For example, "a temporary breakdown in trust" might be acceptable, as shown in some examples.