become unserviceable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become unserviceable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is no longer functional or useful, often in the context of equipment or machinery. Example: "After years of heavy use, the old machinery has finally become unserviceable and needs to be replaced."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

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

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

Procedia Engineering

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

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

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

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

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

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

Wikipedia

We have become addicted to speculative finance to achieve unsustainable financial returns to keep the entire system from imploding under a mountain of unserviceable liabilities right at the time when resource constraints will make it harder for the developed economies to grow out of these debts, debts made far worse by the inevitable crashes that the unsustainable system perpetuates.

Huffington Post

"Become rich?

The New Yorker

They become friends, they become contacts.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the condition of equipment or infrastructure, use "become unserviceable" to indicate that it is no longer fit for its intended purpose due to wear, damage, or obsolescence. This phrase is particularly useful in technical and formal contexts.

Common error

While "become unserviceable" is technically correct, avoid using it in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "stopped working" or "broke down" are often more appropriate and natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become unserviceable" functions as a verb phrase indicating a transition to a state of being unfit for use. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, highlighting its descriptive role in technical or formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "become unserviceable" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, predominantly found in science, news, and wiki contexts. Ludwig AI indicates its suitability for describing the state of something ceasing to be functional. While technically sound, it's best reserved for formal writing and technical discussions. Simpler alternatives may be preferred in casual settings. Its purpose is primarily descriptive, offering clarity on the state of an object or system. Key sources like The New York Times and The Guardian exemplify its use in credible publications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become unusable

Replaces "unserviceable" with a more common synonym, "unusable", maintaining the core meaning.

become inoperative

Substitutes "unserviceable" with "inoperative", suggesting a failure to function, often in a technical context.

become non-functional

A more formal way of saying something no longer works.

become defective

Implies a flaw or fault has caused the item to become unusable.

cease to function

Shifts the focus to the action of functioning, rather than the state of being serviceable.

become unfit for purpose

Highlights that the item no longer meets the requirements for its intended use.

break down

A more general term for ceasing to function, often implying a mechanical failure.

go out of service

Suggests that something is intentionally taken out of use, perhaps for maintenance or repair.

become obsolete

Implies that something is no longer useful because it's outdated.

reach the end of its life

Suggests a natural or expected termination of usability.

FAQs

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

You can use "become unserviceable" to describe when something is no longer usable due to damage, wear, or obsolescence. For example: "After years of heavy use, the equipment started to "become unserviceable"".

What are some alternatives to "become unserviceable"?

Alternatives to "become unserviceable" include "become unusable", "become inoperative", or "become defective", depending on the specific context.

Is "become unserviceable" formal or informal?

"Become unserviceable" is generally considered a more formal term. In informal contexts, phrases like "stopped working" or "broke down" may be more suitable.

When is it appropriate to use "become unserviceable" instead of "become unusable"?

"Become unserviceable" is most appropriate when describing equipment, infrastructure, or systems that are no longer fit for their intended function, especially in technical or formal settings. "Become unusable" is a more general term that can be applied in a wider range of contexts.