broken link

USAGE SUMMARY

"broken link" is a correctly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a link within a website that does not work correctly due to an error, or a link to an external source that is no longer accessible. For example, "Clicking on this link should send you to the correct page, but unfortunately, it is a broken link."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A central chevron in this escutcheon bears a black chain with a broken link, symbolizing the broken bonds of slavery.

The New Yorker

That great chain is being broken link by link".

The Guardian

(Acxiom says it has fixed the broken link that caused the problem).

The New York Times

If you wish to report a broken link on the site please do so here.

The Guardian

Turning to the Internet, one finds "An Interview with Murray Kempton," which proves to be a broken link.

The New Yorker

(Ms. Barrett Glasgow said the company quickly identified and fixed a broken link that had caused the problem).

The New York Times

It's about the broken link between the wealth of the country as a whole and people's own finances.

The Guardian - Opinion

Pushing the economy back to full employment restores the position of workers at the bargaining table, repairing the broken link between labour productivity and wages.

The Guardian - Opinion

For a while it worked, but the downside of any vertically integrated structure is that one broken link can bring down the whole organization.

The New York Times - Magazine

If you've got any smart new ideas for questions or even smart new ways of formulating tired old questions, please tell us in a comment.UPDATE: Apologies for that broken link.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The tram, which uniquely in Israeli public transport announced its stops in Arabic as well as Hebrew and English, and carried Arabic adverts, recreated a long-broken link.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Utilize broken link checker tools regularly to maintain website health. These tools can automatically scan your site and identify "broken links" that need repair.

Common error

Don't treat all "broken links" the same. Prioritize fixing those on high-traffic pages or those linking to crucial resources, as these have the greatest impact on user experience and SEO.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "broken link" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It identifies a specific type of problem encountered on the internet, where a hyperlink no longer leads to the intended destination. Ludwig AI affirms its validity and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

32%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

The Guardian - Opinion

3%

The New Yorker

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "broken link" is a common and accepted term in written English, used to describe a hyperlink that no longer functions correctly. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and widespread use across diverse contexts, including news, science, and general web content. While alternatives such as "dead link" or "faulty link" exist, "broken link" remains the most recognized and frequently used term. When encountering or reporting a "broken link", providing specific details helps ensure prompt resolution. Regular website maintenance, including checking for and fixing "broken links", is crucial for maintaining a positive user experience and good SEO.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dead link

Emphasizes the inaccessibility or non-existence of the link, making it unusable.

faulty link

Highlights a defect or imperfection in the link's operation.

non-functional link

Directly states the link does not perform its intended function.

invalid link

Indicates the link is not recognized or authorized.

defective link

Similar to 'faulty link', stressing an inherent flaw.

corrupted link

Suggests the link's data or structure has been damaged.

unreachable link

Highlights the inability to access the resource the link points to.

dysfunctional link

Focuses on the impaired operation of the link.

disconnected link

Emphasizes the severed connection or relationship the link was meant to provide.

non-working link

A simpler way to convey that the link isn't functioning.

FAQs

How to use "broken link" in a sentence?

You can say, "I found a "broken link" on the website" or "The website has several "broken links" that need to be fixed".

What can I say instead of "broken link"?

You can use alternatives like "dead link", "faulty link", or "non-functional link" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "broken link" or "ruptured link"?

"Broken link" is the more common and accepted term for a link that no longer works. "Ruptured link" is less frequently used, but is similar in intent. You can explore other alternatives to "broken link" to better fit the context.

What's the difference between "broken link" and "dead link"?

While both terms describe a link that doesn't work, "dead link" often implies that the resource the link pointed to no longer exists, while "broken link" can also refer to internal linking errors or technical issues.