exceptionally brittle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exceptionally brittle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is very fragile or easily breakable, often in a physical or metaphorical sense. Example: "The glass sculpture was exceptionally brittle, shattering at the slightest touch."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Quasicrystals are exceptionally brittle.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Silicon combines exceptional hardness with exceptional lightness — at an equal size a silicon case is half the weight of a titanium one and a quarter the weight of steel — but it can also be exceptionally brittle.

The New York Times

In similar fashion, current textual deep learning approaches are exceptionally brittle when it comes to understanding emotion and context, with even minor grammatical and spelling errors leading them wildly astray.

Forbes

If you've been relaxing your hair for a long time or your hair is exceptionally brittle, you may also want to do a hot oil treatment.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A novel preparation technique was developed to examine fruits and seeds of plants with exceptionally hard or brittle tissues that are very difficult to prepare using standard histological techniques.

Applications in Plant Sciences

But Simone, the heroine of this exceptionally good first novel, is smart without being brittle.

The Guardian - Books

The hard and brittle Ti3Sn is also found to produce an exceptionally large elastic strain of 1.95% in the composite.

Acta Materialia

From Fig. 9a, the ratio ϕ (=B T /G H) shows that (a) at zero pressures, semiconducting chalcogenides SrX (X = O, S, Se, Te) are ductile in NaCl phase, and (b) with increased pressure brittle nature ϕ (=B T /G H) >1.75 is documented but SrO shows exceptionally ductile nature in CsCl phase.

Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics

Enforced stability is brittle.

The New Yorker

It could prove brittle.

The Economist

But relations are brittle.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing materials or objects, use "exceptionally brittle" to highlight a significant susceptibility to breaking or shattering under stress.

Common error

Avoid using "exceptionally brittle" in casual conversation; simpler terms like "very fragile" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exceptionally brittle" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun to indicate an extreme degree of brittleness, highlighting the object's susceptibility to breaking or shattering. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in describing physical properties of materials and even abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exceptionally brittle" is a grammatically sound and valid descriptor used to convey a high degree of fragility or breakability. As Ludwig AI points out, it is generally considered correct and can be applied in both physical and metaphorical senses. While not overly common, it's appropriate for formal and descriptive writing, particularly when precision is needed. Synonyms like "extremely fragile" or "highly breakable" may be suitable alternatives depending on the context and desired level of formality. Overuse in casual conversation should be avoided for maintaining natural language flow.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely fragile

Replaces "exceptionally" with "extremely", focusing on the fragility aspect.

highly breakable

Uses a more direct and common term for breakability.

particularly fragile

Substitutes "exceptionally" with "particularly", indicating a notable degree of fragility.

remarkably fragile

Emphasizes the surprising or noteworthy aspect of the fragility.

unusually breakable

Highlights the atypical nature of the breakability.

incredibly fragile

Uses "incredibly" to intensify the degree of fragility.

exceedingly fragile

Employs a more formal term, "exceedingly", to express a high degree of fragility.

delicate to a fault

Expresses fragility in a more descriptive and evocative manner.

easily shattered

Focuses on the ease with which the object can be broken.

inherently unstable

Shifts the focus to the inherent instability of the material, implying fragility.

FAQs

What does "exceptionally brittle" mean?

The term "exceptionally brittle" describes something that is extremely fragile and easily broken or shattered.

How can I use "exceptionally brittle" in a sentence?

You can use "exceptionally brittle" to describe materials or objects that are prone to breaking, for example: "The ancient vase was "extremely fragile" and required careful handling."

What are some synonyms for "exceptionally brittle"?

Alternatives include "extremely fragile", "highly breakable", or "particularly fragile", depending on the desired nuance.

Is it appropriate to use "exceptionally brittle" in formal writing?

Yes, "exceptionally brittle" is suitable for formal writing, especially in scientific or technical contexts where precise language is important. However, be mindful of the audience and consider whether a simpler term would be more effective.