damaged but working

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "damaged but working" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an object or system that has sustained some form of damage but is still functional. Example: "The old printer is damaged but working, so we can still use it until we get a new one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The airport was badly damaged but is working again and some commercial flights are running from the capital, Maputo.

The Guardian

No vehicles were damaged, but Caltrans crews worked for about two hours to clean up the mess.

Los Angeles Times

As a result Coc's MiG-21 was damaged but the controls were still working properly, so he requested to carry on with the mission.

Wikipedia

But its almost ethereal thinness makes it easily damaged when working with it.

BBC

His eyes and lungs were badly damaged while working at the limestone quarry on Robben Island.

The Economist

His lungs are said to have been damaged while working in a prison quarry.

BBC

Always wear clothing that can be damaged when working with wet concrete.

WikiHow

Wear clothes you don't mind being damaged when working with oil paints.

WikiHow

Constructs were catalogued at −80°C to minimise damage from freeze/thaw cycles, but working stocks were stored at 4°C [ 10].

BMC Infectious Diseases

Kauai County officials and Red Cross have not fully assessed the damage but are working with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to begin relief efforts.

HuffPost

Engineers had been concerned that if the device was damaged, working on it might make the leak worse.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where something is not in perfect condition but still serves its purpose, use "damaged but working" to convey both the impairment and the functionality. Be mindful that while grammatically correct, more formal alternatives may be required.

Common error

Avoid using "damaged but working" when the item is only slightly imperfect. Ensure the damage is significant enough to warrant the description; otherwise, simply state that it is "working" or "functional".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "damaged but working" functions as a compound descriptor, combining an adjective indicating impairment ("damaged") with a description of continued functionality ("working"). Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "damaged but working" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, primarily used to describe items or systems that are impaired yet still functional. Ludwig AI indicates its acceptability. While its register is mostly neutral, more formal contexts may require alternatives like "impaired but operational". It's commonly found across News & Media, Wiki, and Scientific sources, and is best used when accurately portraying a state of partial impairment coupled with continued functionality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Impaired but operational

Replaces "damaged" with "impaired" and "working" with "operational", offering a slightly more formal tone.

Broken but functional

Substitutes "damaged" with "broken" and "working" with "functional", emphasizing the extent of the damage while maintaining the idea of functionality.

Faulty but in service

Replaces "damaged" with "faulty" and "working" with "in service", suitable for describing equipment or systems.

Defective but usable

Uses "defective" instead of "damaged" and "usable" instead of "working", suggesting imperfections but continued utility.

Worn but reliable

Replaces "damaged" with "worn" and "working" with "reliable", implying that the item is old but still trustworthy.

Not perfect but still functioning

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the imperfection and continued function.

Partially broken but still running

Specifies that the item is only partially broken while emphasizing that it continues to operate.

Compromised but active

Substitutes "damaged" with "compromised" and "working" with "active", suitable for systems or processes.

Ailing but effective

Uses "ailing" to describe the damage and "effective" to describe the continued function.

Suboptimal but adequate

Replaces "damaged" with "suboptimal" and "working" with "adequate", indicating that the item is not ideal, but sufficient.

FAQs

How can I use "damaged but working" in a sentence?

You can use "damaged but working" to describe something that is not in perfect condition but is still functional. For example, "The printer is "damaged but working", so we can still use it for now."

What are some alternatives to "damaged but working"?

Some alternatives include "impaired but operational", "broken but functional", or "faulty but in service". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "damaged but working" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "damaged but working" might be considered informal for some contexts. In formal writing, consider using "impaired but operational" or another more professional-sounding alternative.

What's the difference between "damaged but working" and "in working order"?

"Damaged but working" implies that something is not in perfect condition but still functions, whereas "in working order" suggests that something is fully functional and without any significant issues. They are almost opposites.