breakdown in service

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "breakdown in service" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a failure or interruption in the functioning of a service, such as in customer support, utilities, or technology. Example: "Due to a breakdown in service, customers experienced delays in their orders being processed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A solid customer relationship can make it easier to get through some type of breakdown in service and eventually overcome negative obstacles such as an order that is delivered late or a request that is not handled correctly.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Who knows what role the post-blizzard breakdown in services played in this jump, or in any other sad things that happened this week?

The New Yorker

The protests have swelled into a cry of anger over a decade of mismanagement during which Mr. Shevardnadze has let this small nation in the Caucasus slide into poverty, joblessness, corruption and a breakdown in services.

The New York Times

A new report says that the United States must build two new polar icebreakers to avert a potential catastrophic breakdown in servicing the country's three Antarctic research stations and protecting its scientific, economic, and political interests at both poles.

Science Magazine

From 1992 to 1998, railroad stocks nearly tripled, keeping up with the Dow Jones industrial average, despite the poorly integrated set of mergers that led to breakdowns in service.

The New York Times

And yet, even as business travelers are becoming inured to breakdowns in service, many strive for special treatment, perhaps in a quest to maintain some dignity.

The New York Times

Limited district budgets and stock outs at health centers, where HSAs are supposed to restock their supplies, combined with limited capacity for forecasting needs have led to important breakdowns in service provision in the community.

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

"But there is clearly a breakdown in the service that these nail salons provide — both in convenience and quality".

The New York Times

The former Leyton Orient manager Martin Ling once considered taking his own life while having a mental breakdown in a service station on the M5.

The Guardian - Sport

It just leaves me to offer you all my apologies for this breakdown in usual service and point you in the direction of our technical staff who, as Anjana pointed out yesterday, don't 'do' PCs on weekends.

The Guardian - Sport

BlackBerry is to retain its status as the government's favoured mobile device for transferring restricted information, despite the network problems that led to a widespread breakdown in its service for three days last week.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing "breakdown in service", be specific about the type of service affected and the resulting impact to provide clarity and context for the reader.

Common error

Do not simply state there was a "breakdown in service". Instead, detail the specific service that was affected (e.g., internet service, customer support) and the consequences of the breakdown.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "breakdown in service" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes a situation where a service is interrupted or has failed to function properly. It is often used to identify a problem or issue related to service delivery.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "breakdown in service" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase to describe an interruption or failure in the delivery of a service. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to inform about service disruptions across diverse contexts, ranging from news reports to formal business communications. While the phrase maintains a neutral register, specific alternatives like "service failure" or "service disruption" can offer subtle differences in emphasis. When using "breakdown in service", clarity is paramount; specify the affected service and its impact. Remember that, while useful, excessive generalization dilutes the phrase's effectiveness. High-quality sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employ the phrase, attesting to its widespread acceptance and utility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

service failure

Focuses directly on the failure aspect of the service.

failure of service

Similar to "service failure" but emphasizes the action of failing.

service disruption

Emphasizes the interruption of the service rather than a complete failure.

service interruption

A straightforward alternative with a focus on the service being stopped.

interruption of service

Reverses the word order for a slightly more formal tone.

lapse in service

Highlights a temporary suspension or decline in service quality.

deficient service

Indicates that the service is not up to the required standard.

malfunction in service

Suggests a problem with the way the service is operating.

operational failure

Focuses on the operational aspect of the service failing.

service standstill

Emphasizes a complete halt or cessation of the service.

FAQs

What does "breakdown in service" mean?

The phrase "breakdown in service" refers to a failure or interruption in the delivery of a particular service. It implies that the service is not functioning as expected or has completely stopped.

What are some alternatives to "breakdown in service"?

You can use alternatives like "service failure", "service disruption", or "interruption of service" depending on the specific context.

How can I use "breakdown in service" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "Due to a technical malfunction, there was a significant "breakdown in service" for our online banking platform."

Is it better to say "breakdown in service" or "service breakdown"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "breakdown in service" is generally more common. "Service breakdown" can sound slightly less formal, but the meaning remains largely the same.