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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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break deadline

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

"break deadline" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a situation where something did not finish on time. For example, "The team was unable to break the deadline in order to submit their documents on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

I'm type-A -- more on that when you're older -- and don't typically break deadlines or promises, especially if there's a paycheck involved.

News & Media

Huffington Post

With each make-or-break deadline comes a sliding scale of drama and intensity.

News & Media

The Guardian

Congress often acts in the face of deadlines, but the spring-break deadline is artificial.

News & Media

The New York Times

YankeeNets completed its $176 million purchase of the Devils yesterday, nine days before a deal-breaking deadline.

Despite his overwhelming talent, Ozil was in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in La Liga and his record-breaking deadline day move to Arsenal represents a fresh and exciting start in a different league.

News & Media

Independent

Despite this make-or-break deadline, considerable progress still has to be made on a variety of trade issues.

News & Media

Forbes

Arsenal's signing of Mesut Ozil was the big deal on a record-breaking deadline day as Premier League clubs set new spending records.

News & Media

BBC

As the potentially landmark reform of Mexico's state-owned oil industry hurtled toward a make-or-break deadline this week, an influential voice of criticism sounded from an unlikely quarter.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

Unlike the writers' strike that began in November 2007, however, this protest would fall during many shows' summer breaks, Deadline points out.

News & Media

Huffington Post

He broke deadlines and contracts with a shrug, and signed agreements to write books he did not deliver.

But given seven years of political disputes, broken deadlines and cost overruns, city officials and executives from the memorial foundation are now seeking assurances over the next several days that the authority's latest plan will be completed on schedule.

News & Media

The New York Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "break deadline", ensure the context clearly indicates whether the deadline was missed or extended. The term can sometimes be ambiguous.

Common error

Avoid using "break deadline" when you specifically mean to "extend the deadline". "Break deadline" usually refers to failing to meet it, not changing it.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

3.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "break deadline" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe the action of failing to meet an established deadline. Although Ludwig shows examples with very similar meaning, no exact matches for the query were found.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis of the phrase "break deadline" reveals that it is a grammatically correct expression used to describe the failure to meet a set deadline. While Ludwig did not provide direct examples of the phrase's usage, the term itself is generally understandable and can be used in various contexts. Although it is grammatically acceptable, phrases such as "miss deadline" may be a clearer choice. Understanding the subtle differences between these phrases ensures effective communication in professional and academic settings.

FAQs

What does "break deadline" mean?

"Break deadline" generally means failing to meet a previously set deadline. It implies that the task or project was not completed by the agreed-upon time.

Is it better to say "miss deadline" or "break deadline"?

Both "miss deadline" and "break deadline" are acceptable, but "miss deadline" is perhaps clearer and more commonly used to indicate failure to meet a deadline. "Break deadline" can sometimes be used interchangeably, but consider the context to ensure clarity.

What's the difference between "extend deadline" and "break deadline"?

"Extend deadline" means to move the deadline to a later date, giving more time. "Break deadline" means failing to meet the original deadline. They have opposite meanings; consider using "miss deadline" if you are referring to failure to meet a deadline.

How can I avoid breaking a deadline?

Effective planning, time management, and regular progress monitoring are essential. If you anticipate difficulties, communicate proactively and consider requesting an "extend deadline" well in advance.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: