become ineffective

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become ineffective" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something is no longer functioning as intended or is failing to produce the desired results. Example: "Over time, the old software began to become ineffective, leading to numerous errors in data processing."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Overuse them, and they become ineffective.

The New York Times

The 10 years took their toll, and some questioned whether his protest had become ineffective.

The Guardian

Existing immune strategies are mainly designed for static networks, which become ineffective for temporal networks.

Future Generation Computer Systems

Meanwhile, Jalen Rose, Indiana's second-leading scorer, has become ineffective at an inopportune time.

The New York Times - Sports

Planned production schedules often become ineffective in actual execution on the shop floor.

Procedia CIRP

But in this case, the problem was not a poison that had become ineffective.

The New York Times - Science

That means that monetary policy has become ineffective at boosting demand.

The Economist

Some of the newer strains developed for leaf beetle control become ineffective in about 24 hours.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"At what point does it become ineffective to do any of that?" she asked.

The Washington Post

Once resistance takes hold and drugs become ineffective, treating even common diseases becomes problematic.

The Guardian

We found that it may become ineffective when the over-loading of drug in a polymer matrix is too small.

Chemical Engineering Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "become ineffective", ensure the context clearly indicates what is losing effectiveness and why. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "become ineffective" as a generic placeholder. Replace it with more precise language that indicates the specific nature of the failure, such as "lose accuracy", "prove unreliable", or "cease to function properly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become ineffective" typically functions as a predicate within a sentence. It describes a state change, indicating that something is transitioning from being effective to not being effective. This phrase often requires a subject to define what is losing its effectiveness, aligning with Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

32%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "become ineffective" is a versatile expression used to describe a state change where something loses its ability to produce the desired outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse fields like science, news, and academia. Alternatives such as "cease to be effective" or "lose effectiveness" can be used to add nuance. When using the phrase, be specific about what is losing effectiveness and why, and avoid generic usage. Numerous examples show its widespread use in explaining failures, warning about potential issues, and informing about changes in efficacy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cease to be effective

Focuses on the complete end of effectiveness, suggesting a more abrupt or definitive change.

lose effectiveness

Emphasizes a gradual decline in effectiveness over time, rather than a sudden stop.

turn ineffective

Highlights the process or action that leads to the state of being ineffective.

prove ineffective

Suggests that something was tested or tried and found not to be effective.

grow ineffective

Implies a gradual process of becoming ineffective, often due to changing circumstances.

end up ineffective

Indicates an unexpected or undesirable outcome of something becoming ineffective.

devolve into ineffectiveness

Suggests a negative transformation into a state of ineffectiveness, often after a period of decline.

be rendered ineffective

Emphasizes an external force or action that causes something to become ineffective.

fail to deliver results

Highlights the lack of desired outcomes as a result of ineffectiveness.

become non-functional

Focuses on the inability to perform its intended function.

FAQs

What are some synonyms for "become ineffective"?

Alternatives include "cease to be effective", "lose effectiveness", or "prove ineffective". The best choice depends on the specific context.

How can I use "become ineffective" in a sentence?

You might say, "The medication may "become ineffective" over time," or "Traditional strategies have "become ineffective" in addressing the new challenges."

Is it better to say "became ineffective" or "become ineffective"?

The choice depends on the tense of your sentence. "Became ineffective" is past tense, while "become ineffective" is present or future tense. For example, "The policy became ineffective last year," versus "The policy may "become ineffective" if not updated."

What causes something to "become ineffective"?

Things can "become ineffective" due to various reasons, such as overuse, resistance, changing circumstances, obsolescence, or external interference. Specifics depend on the context.