busted

USAGE SUMMARY

'busted' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe a broken object or to refer to an unsuccessful attempt, as in the example sentence "She busted her phone when she dropped it on the ground."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

Four healthy ageing diet myths busted Farage v the facts: the truth about foreign doctors George Monbiot: Children in our towns and cities are being robbed of safe spaces to play All today's SocietyGuardian stories Tech innovations that could improve lives in 2015 Clare Allan: Are our expectations of friends, partners or children too high?

The Guardian

Tony Wright, the national affairs editor of the Age newspaper in Melbourne, said: "If you'd hauled a semi-trailer load of fighting rum, a caravan of harlots and a boxing tent into a mining camp on payday, you'd hardly predict the level of crazed viciousness that has busted out in what's left of the heart of the Labor party".

The Guardian

"That's why I've busted my butt.

The Guardian - Sport

His bullshit jobs argument could be taken as a counterblast to the hyper-capitalist dystopia argument wherein the robots take over and humans are busted down to an eternity of playing Minecraft.

The Guardian - Books

He is busted on such issues and not only with the pacifists who periodically "arrest" him in return for a crowd-funded bounty from ArrestBlair.org, which now stands at £7,414 $12,4388).The armed forces, stricken by the overstretch and consequent cuts wrought by Mr Blair's adventurism, also resent him; the Foreign Office distrusts him.

The Economist

In what looks to have been a co-ordinated sting operation, several smaller dark-net markets were also reported to have been busted, including Cloud9 and Hydra.Law enforcers have been under intense pressure to act in recent months.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Of course we incorporate technical drills into our routines throughout the year, but because you're not busting a gut in every session you can concentrate on becoming more efficient in your swim, bike and run.

The Guardian - Sport

Seinfeld was inventive, Friends was a global phenomenon, Will and Grace went out of its way to bust taboos, and even Everybody Loves Raymond was bearable once you understood that every single character would be happier if any of the other characters died.

The Guardian

11.30am: This excellent post by Michael Wilkerson, a journalist who has worked extensively in Uganda, starts busting some of the myths around Kony and the situation in Uganda.

The Guardian

I have a feeling the authorities are preparing to bust some heads and these stories are being put about so it appears to be the protesters that cause it.

The Guardian

Unable to lie, she spilled the beans, busting the whole sordid scheme wide open.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "busted" to convey a sense of informality or immediacy, particularly when describing someone being caught in the act or something being broken. For formal contexts, consider alternatives like "apprehended" or "out of order".

Common error

Avoid using "busted" in formal writing or professional settings where more precise or sophisticated language is expected. Opt for terms like "discovered", "exposed", or "failed" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "busted" is as the past tense and past participle of the verb "bust". As seen in Ludwig's examples, it's frequently used to describe the act of being caught doing something wrong, or to describe something that is broken or not functioning. It also often functions as an adjective, describing a state of being.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Science

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "busted" functions primarily as the past tense and past participle of "bust", used to describe being caught in the act, something being broken, or financial ruin. According to Ludwig, its usage is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it is most suitable for informal to neutral contexts, and caution should be exercised in formal writing where alternatives like "apprehended" or "discovered" may be more appropriate. Remember to consider your audience and the specific situation when determining whether "busted" is the right choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

caught red-handed

Implies being caught in the act of doing something wrong; more specific than "busted" in that it emphasizes the moment of discovery.

apprehended

Suggests a formal capture by authorities; more formal and less colloquial than "busted".

exposed

Focuses on the revelation of wrongdoing or a secret; "busted" implies direct confrontation or discovery.

broke

Refers specifically to being without money; "busted" can also mean broken or caught.

bankrupt

Indicates a formal state of financial ruin; a more severe and official term than "busted".

out of order

Describes something that is not functioning correctly; relates to the "broken" sense of "busted".

kaput

Informal way to say something is broken or ruined; similar in tone to "busted" but less commonly used.

defunct

Indicates something no longer exists or functions; applies to systems or organizations rather than individual items.

discovered

Highlights the act of finding something out, often something hidden or illicit; less direct than "busted".

uncovered

Suggests revealing something previously hidden; emphasizes the investigative aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "busted" in a sentence?

You can use "busted" to describe someone being caught doing something wrong, as in "He was "caught red-handed" and "busted" stealing from the cookie jar!" or to indicate something is broken, such as "My phone is "out of order"; I think it's "busted"."

What's the difference between "busted" and "arrested"?

"Arrested" implies a formal legal process where someone is taken into custody by law enforcement. "Busted" is more informal and can refer to being caught in the act of wrongdoing or simply being discovered, without necessarily involving an "apprehension".

Which is correct, "busted" or "bust"?

Both "bust" and "busted" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Bust" is the base form of the verb, while "busted" is the past tense and past participle. For example, "The police will bust the drug ring" versus "The drug ring was "busted" by the police".

What can I say instead of "busted" when referring to something that's broken?

When referring to something that is broken, you can use alternatives like ""out of order"", "broken", or "defunct" depending on the context.