broken sleep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "broken sleep" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a sleep pattern that is interrupted or fragmented, often resulting in feeling tired or unrested. Example: "After a night of broken sleep, I struggled to stay awake during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

But I have very broken sleep … for seven years.

The Guardian

By no stretch of the English language - or of medical analysis - do nightmares, broken sleep, hyper-vigilance and jumping at unexpected noises belong under the headings of stress or low mood.

Independent

Its work so far suggests that long-term exposure to noise from traffic alone could be responsible, around the world, for hundreds of thousands of deaths through ischaemic heart disease every year, as well as contributing to strokes, high blood pressure, tinnitus, broken sleep and other stress-related illnesses.

The Guardian - Opinion

Storing cellphones away from bedrooms overnight would remove this source as a reason for broken sleep.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

However, the collection of the number of nocturnal awakenings confirmed that these infants did have broken sleep.

BMJ Open

If parents were to require cellphones, cordless phones and other RF-EMF transmitting devices not to be in bedrooms overnight, this would remove a source of RF-EMF exposure and remove the significant likelihood of calls or texts causing broken sleep, which we demonstrate was strongly related to tiredness at school.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

With deadlines to meet and boundaries to break, sleep sometimes falls to the wayside.

Huffington Post

Yoli is divorced, broke, sleeping with the wrong men: she desperately wants to keep her older sister alive.

The Guardian

Several also replied to Black's tongue-in-cheek status, posted on Twitter just hours after the news broke: "Slept all day today after my trip to Russia.

Independent

A number of polysomnography (PSG) studies have shown that ICU patients commonly have broken, light sleep with a lack of slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep [ 6- 9].

Critical Care

Oh yes, and if you are wondering why you can sometimes wake up more tired than before the nap, it is because you have broken a sleep cycle too soon.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing sleep patterns, be specific about the cause of the "broken sleep". Mentioning factors like noise, stress, or medical conditions provides more context.

Common error

Don't simply state that someone has "broken sleep" without elaborating on the impact. Detail how this sleep disruption affects their daily life, mood, or performance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "broken sleep" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "broken" modifies the noun "sleep". Ludwig AI confirms its usability in describing a sleep pattern that is interrupted or fragmented.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "broken sleep" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe fragmented or interrupted sleep, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's frequently used in various contexts, from news reports and scientific studies to everyday conversations, to convey a disrupted sleep pattern that leads to fatigue and other health issues. To enhance clarity, it's advisable to specify the underlying causes or resulting effects of the "broken sleep". Alternatives like "interrupted sleep" or "fragmented sleep" can be used for variety. While the phrase is widely accepted, providing context and avoiding vagueness can significantly improve communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

interrupted sleep

Emphasizes the interruptions during sleep.

fragmented sleep

Highlights the disjointed nature of sleep.

disturbed sleep

Focuses on the disturbances affecting sleep quality.

fitful sleep

Suggests restless and uneasy sleep.

restless sleep

Describes sleep characterized by frequent movement and unease.

poor sleep quality

Indicates an overall lack of restorative sleep.

disrupted sleep cycle

Refers to interruptions in the natural sleep-wake cycle.

shallow sleep

Describes sleep that is not deep or restorative.

light sleep

Indicates a stage of sleep that is easily disturbed.

unsound sleep

Implies that sleep is not peaceful or restful.

FAQs

What does "broken sleep" mean?

"Broken sleep" refers to a sleep pattern that is frequently interrupted, resulting in fragmented and often non-restorative sleep.

What are some common causes of "broken sleep"?

Common causes include stress, noise, medical conditions like sleep apnea, and lifestyle factors such as shift work. Addressing these underlying issues can improve sleep quality.

What can I say instead of "broken sleep"?

You can use alternatives like "interrupted sleep", "fragmented sleep", or "disturbed sleep" depending on the specific context.

How does "broken sleep" affect overall health?

"Broken sleep" can lead to fatigue, impaired cognitive function, mood disturbances, and increased risk of chronic health conditions. Prioritizing sleep hygiene is crucial for mitigating these effects.