breaking existing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "breaking existing" is not correct as it lacks a noun to complete the thought.
It could be used in contexts where you are referring to breaking existing rules, systems, or structures, but it needs to be part of a larger phrase. Example: "The new policy is aimed at breaking existing barriers to innovation."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Show trials of the fraudulent few will deter other executives from breaking existing law.

The New York Times

Innovation requires risk-taking, breaking existing systems and challenging the norms.

The Washington Post

XML files can also be extended to contain new information without breaking existing implementations.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

The bad news is that they're right, so it's important to minimise the risk of bugs and avoid breaking existing functionality when writing your code.

The Guardian

The commission found that 137 sites were breaking existing EU consumer rules by confusing - or deliberately misleading - ticket pricing and the availability of seats at the lowest fares.

Independent

"We can't have snobbishness on either of those [sides]." Regulators are getting interested in free-to-play games at the moment, with the UK's Office of Fair Trading launching an investigation into how these games and their in-app purchases are marketed to children, and whether some developers are breaking existing laws in the process.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

One result would be to break existing labor contracts.

The New York Times - Travel

Will this break existing links to my website?

University of California, Berkeley

Carrey's career slotted into existing formats and helped to revitalize them; Kaufman's career broke existing formats and created new ones.

The New Yorker

Tickets for the opening weekend showings went on sale in January in the US and promptly broke existing pre-sale records.

The Guardian - Film

I can test specific parts of the Action and also have the reassurance adding new features won't break existing an implementation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always follow "breaking existing" with a noun to clarify what is being broken, such as "rules", "laws", "contracts", or "systems". This will ensure grammatical correctness and clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "breaking existing" without specifying what is being broken. This omission leads to ambiguity and grammatical errors. Complete the phrase with a relevant noun to provide context and meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "breaking existing" functions as an incomplete verb phrase requiring a noun to specify the object being acted upon. Ludwig identifies it as grammatically incorrect in isolation but understandable with context. It often implies an action that disrupts or violates a norm.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

35%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "breaking existing" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incomplete without a clarifying noun. It's commonly found in contexts discussing the disruption of rules, laws, or systems, particularly in News & Media and Science. To ensure clarity and grammatical correctness, always specify what is being broken (e.g., "breaking existing rules"). Consider alternatives like "violating current" or "disrupting established" for nuanced expression. Remember to always complete the phrase with a relevant noun to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Violating current

Emphasizes the act of going against something that is currently in effect.

Disrupting established

Highlights the disturbance or interruption of something that is well-settled.

Contravenes prevailing

Focuses on acting in opposition to what is generally accepted or practiced.

Transgressing present

Indicates exceeding or violating current boundaries or limits.

Flouting existing

Implies openly disregarding or showing contempt for something that already exists.

Infringing upon present

Highlights the act of encroaching on or violating a current right or law.

Overturning established

Suggests reversing or invalidating something that has been firmly established.

Breaching ongoing

Emphasizes the violation of something that is currently in progress or in effect.

Challenging current

Focuses on questioning or contesting the validity or authority of something presently in place.

Revising current

Suggests altering or amending something that is presently in use.

FAQs

How should I complete the phrase "breaking existing"?

The phrase "breaking existing" requires a noun to specify what is being broken. For example, you could say "breaking existing rules", "breaking existing contracts", or "breaking existing systems".

Is "breaking existing" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig, the phrase "breaking existing" is not grammatically correct because it lacks a noun. It needs to be completed to make sense in a sentence.

What are some alternatives to "breaking existing rules"?

You can use alternatives like "violating current", "disrupting established", or "flouting existing" rules, depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "breaking existing systems"?

You can use "breaking existing systems" when you want to describe the act of disrupting or changing established systems, often to introduce innovation or improvements. Consider alternatives such as "overturning established".