became unserviceable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "became unserviceable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an object or equipment that is no longer functional or usable. Example: "After years of heavy use, the machinery finally became unserviceable and needed to be replaced."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The BBC's Robert Hall, at the aerodrome, said one of four two-seater Spitfires due to take part became unserviceable - prompting Prince Harry to pull out to allow others to fly instead.

BBC

A large proportion of equipment became unserviceable for lack of spare parts.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

With trafficking and adverse environmental conditions, roads may become unserviceable quite quickly.

Procedia Engineering

With less tax going to government and rising public expenditure for benefits, debt rises and either destabilises the currency or it becomes unserviceable.

The Guardian

He went on, "In dream-life, the child that is in man pursues its existence, as it were, and retains all its characteristics and wishful impulses, even such as have become unserviceable in later life.

The New Yorker

If the conditions are too severe, the rubber may rapidly become unserviceable.

International Journal of Industrial Chemistry

Prince Harry was due to fly a two-seater spitfire, but the BBC's Robert Hall says the aircraft has become unserviceable.

BBC

Even though it is intuitively known that the size of opening hassignificant effects on the behavior of a shear wall, it is desirable to know thelimiting size of opening in the shear wall, beyond which the shear walls mayfail or become unserviceable, especially when subjected to severe earthquakeground motions.

International Journal of Advanced Structural Engineering

In case GitHub becomes unserviceable, for example, when it changes its terms of service, offers different services than before, or even shuts down completely, it can easily be replaced by other servers that run Git and offer similar graphical user interfaces.

Open Geospatial Data, Software and Standards

By then the wheels were significantly rotted and the ammunition limbers had become unserviceable.

Wikipedia

became universal.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing equipment or systems, consider specifying the reason why something "became unserviceable" to provide more context for your reader.

Common error

While "became unserviceable" is often used in the passive voice, consider rephrasing the sentence to highlight the cause of the unserviceability using the active voice. For example, instead of "The machine became unserviceable," write "Poor maintenance made the machine unserviceable."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "became unserviceable" functions as a verb phrase indicating a change of state. It describes the process of something transitioning from a usable condition to one where it is no longer fit for service. As indicated by Ludwig AI, this is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "became unserviceable" is a verb phrase used to describe the process of something transitioning from a usable to an unusable condition. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in English. While grammatically sound, it appears relatively infrequently, mostly across news, wiki, and scientific sources. When employing this phrase, it is beneficial to add the reason it has become unserviceable, to provide better context. Consider alternatives like "became unusable" or "became inoperable" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became unusable

Focuses on the loss of ability to be used, without specifying the reason.

became inoperable

Highlights the inability to operate or function correctly.

ceased to function

Emphasizes the termination of a working state.

went out of service

Suggests a removal from active duty or use.

broke down

Implies a mechanical failure leading to unserviceability.

became defective

Focuses on a flaw or imperfection causing the unserviceability.

became non-functional

States a lack of functionality in a more technical way.

became unfit for purpose

Highlights the unsuitability for its intended use.

became out of order

Implies a temporary or correctable state of unserviceability.

degenerated

Implies a gradual decline in condition, leading to unserviceability.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "became unserviceable"?

When something "became unserviceable", it means it is no longer in a condition to be used or operated, typically due to damage, wear, or malfunction.

What are some alternative ways to say "became unserviceable"?

You can use alternatives like "became unusable", "became inoperable", or "went out of service" depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to use "became unserviceable" or "was unserviceable"?

"Became unserviceable" implies a change of state, while "was unserviceable" describes a pre-existing condition. Use "became unserviceable" when describing something that transitioned from a usable to an unusable state.

What is the difference between "became unserviceable" and "became obsolete"?

"Became unserviceable" refers to a loss of functionality or usability, often due to physical issues. "Became obsolete", on the other hand, means something is no longer useful or relevant because it has been superseded by newer technology or methods.