breakdowns

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'breakdowns' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to when something is not functioning correctly or when there is a mental or emotional collapse. For example, "The machine had several breakdowns during the production run."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

National Grid announced it was close to signing up three power stations to help fill the gap left by closures, breakdowns and delays, and said the cost to consumers of paying for extra capacity and for companies to adjust their consumption if necessary will be about £1 per household.

The Guardian - Business

Data from the PLR can be found in the downloadable spreadsheet and includes most borrowed titles and authors as well as all the regional breakdowns.

The Guardian

The NIITF also noted "clear links" between the prevalence of suicide and self-harm, and domestic violence, relationship breakdowns, child abuse trauma and alcohol and substance abuse.

The Guardian

Kane at NCVO also believes there remains a need for detailed breakdowns rather than just snappy messages such as "your £10 paid for three jerry cans": "I think people are generally quite sensible about the fact that charities can't provide that jerry can unless you've got a logistics chain in place".

The Guardian

Family breakdowns and loss of contact with children is frequent among women prisoners.

The Guardian

Working around politics for more than a decade I saw it firsthand: gob-smacking leadership bastardry; nervous breakdowns; suicide; venality, greed and treachery; filthy character assassination; crushing loneliness and depression.

The Guardian - Books

In its winter outlook, the operator of pipes and pylons said the electricity margin – the difference between expected peak demand and available supply – has fallen to 4.1%, from a restated 5.9% last year, because of planned generator closures, breakdowns and delays to new plants.

The Guardian - Business

And our children are flexi-sexual emos, their role models given to flashing their fannies at waiting photographers or tweeting about their relationship breakdowns.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Poor planning, equipment failures and communication breakdowns all contributed to the overrunning rail engineering work at Christmas which led to chaos at three London stations, a Network Rail report has said.

The Guardian

"There are marriages not doing too well, there have been nervous breakdowns.

The Guardian

The property itself may have other costs – such as boiler breakdowns or other mishaps.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing complex systems, use "breakdowns" to describe multiple instances of failure, which implies a systemic issue rather than isolated incidents.

Common error

In highly formal or technical reports, avoid relying solely on "breakdowns". Vary your terminology with synonyms like "malfunctions" or "system failures" for precision and enhanced clarity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "breakdowns" is as a plural noun. It typically refers to multiple instances of something ceasing to function correctly, whether physically or mentally. Ludwig's analysis confirms that "breakdowns" is grammatically correct and usable in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "breakdowns" functions as a plural noun, commonly used to denote instances of failure or malfunction across various domains, as supported by Ludwig's analysis. Occurrences are frequently observed in contexts such as "News & Media", "Formal & Business", and "Science". While grammatically sound, as confirmed by Ludwig, alternative terms such as "malfunctions" or "system failures" can offer greater precision depending on the context. When writing, it is beneficial to be mindful of the potential for overuse, especially in formal reports. By considering these nuances, you can effectively communicate the concept of failure while maintaining clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

malfunctions

Focuses specifically on the functional aspect of failure.

failures

A more general term for lack of success or proper functioning.

malfunctions

Emphasizes the functional aspect of something not working properly.

technical faults

Specifically refers to problems in a technical system.

system failures

Highlights failures within a larger system.

collapses

Refers to a sudden fall or loss of structure or function.

interruptions

Emphasizes the stopping or suspension of a process or service.

disruptions

Highlights the disturbance or interruption of a normal state or activity.

cessations

Focuses on the ending or termination of something.

operational halts

Refers specifically to the stopping of operational processes.

FAQs

How can I use "breakdowns" in a sentence?

You can use "breakdowns" to describe failures in machinery, systems, or even personal health. For example, "The frequent "malfunctions" caused significant delays." or "She experienced several emotional "collapses" due to stress".

What are some alternatives to using "breakdowns"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "malfunctions", "failures", "system failures", or "collapses".

Is it correct to use "breakdowns" to describe a person's mental health?

Yes, "breakdowns" can be used to describe mental or emotional collapses. However, it's crucial to use the term sensitively and consider whether other terms like "mental health crises" or "nervous breakdowns" might be more appropriate.

What causes system "breakdowns"?

System "breakdowns" can result from various factors including poor maintenance, design flaws, unexpected environmental conditions, or human error. Addressing these factors proactively is crucial for preventing "system failures".