by fault

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by fault" is not a correct or commonly used phrase in written English.
It is possible that you are thinking of the phrase "by default," which means something that happens automatically or without other options. For example, "I forgot to choose a song, so the jukebox played a random song by default."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The Shaky Isles" are riven by fault lines.

The Economist

As Topher overexplains, making a superperson isn't possible: "Achievement is balanced by fault, by a lack.

The New Yorker

Tehran sits where two tectonic plates clash and is criss-crossed by fault lines.

The Economist

There's been a lot of damage to those rocks, and obviously it was produced by fault activities.

The New York Times

The margins of the mountains drop down by fault scarps to the Kitakami River valley in the east and to a row of longitudinal basins in the west.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One consequence is that mountain blocks are often bounded by fault scarps and flexure slopes that descend in step formation to the adjacent lowlands.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One feature of interest is the diversion of the Murray, near Echuca, by a rising structural block bounded by fault zones and known as the Cadell Fault Block.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Uplifted structural blocks, many of them trending north to south, are common in some areas, while straight river courses reflect the control exercised by fault zones.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Geologic surface maps show subcropping sedimentary rocks and features associated with structural traps such as ridges formed by anticlines during the early stages of folding and lineations produced by fault ruptures.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Earthquakes take place frequently in Turkey, which is crisscrossed by fault lines, and both the government and the Red Crescent are expected to act more effectively in organizing rescue and relief operations.

The New York Times

Mis-operation caused by fault at the middle of line.

Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the cause of a problem, use more grammatically standard alternatives like "due to a fault" or "because of a malfunction" to ensure clarity and correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "by fault" as it's not standard English. Instead, use phrases like "due to a fault" or "because of a defect". This ensures your writing is clear and grammatically sound.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by fault" functions as a prepositional phrase, often attempting to specify the cause or reason for an event. Ludwig AI flags it as not a correct or commonly used phrase, which suggests it's grammatically questionable despite its occurrence in various contexts. Better alternatives are often available.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

26%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While "by fault" appears in various contexts, Ludwig AI indicates that it's not a grammatically correct or commonly used phrase in standard English. Although frequently used in scientific and technical domains to indicate causation, more precise and grammatically sound alternatives, such as "due to a fault", "because of a malfunction", or "owing to an error", should be preferred to ensure clarity and correctness. Always consider the formality of your writing and choose the most appropriate phrasing to effectively communicate your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

due to a fault

Specifies direct causation as a consequence of a fault.

because of a malfunction

Indicates causation resulting from a system or component failing to operate correctly.

owing to an error

Indicates that a mistake is the reason for something.

through a defect

Suggests a flaw or imperfection is the cause.

resulting from a failure

Highlights the failure as the source or origin.

attributable to a flaw

Emphasizes that a particular flaw is responsible for the result.

caused by an imperfection

Highlights that a minor defect or blemish led to the outcome.

as a consequence of the defect

Indicates that the defect has a direct impact on the situation.

stemming from the problem

Presents that the issue originated from a specific difficulty or obstacle.

originating from the error

Points out that the issue comes from the initial mistake.

FAQs

What does "by fault" mean?

While not grammatically standard, "by fault" is sometimes used to indicate that something happened due to a mistake, error, or defect. More correct alternatives include "due to a fault" or "because of an error".

What can I say instead of "by fault"?

You can use alternatives like "due to a fault", "because of a defect", or "owing to an error" depending on the context.

Is "by fault" grammatically correct?

No, "by fault" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "due to a fault" or "caused by a defect."

How to use "due to a fault" instead of "by fault"?

Instead of saying something like "The system failed by fault", you would say "The system failed due to a fault". This is the grammatically correct way to express the same idea.