familiar faults

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "familiar faults" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to errors or mistakes that are well-known or commonly encountered. Example: "Despite the team's efforts, they continued to make familiar faults that hindered their progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

He offered us ragged passion, clotted metaphor, and some of the familiar faults of the series.

The Guardian

The central area has most of the familiar faults of purpose-built, resorts from the 1960s/70s, including empty shops and blocks of small, privately owned (and therefore usually unoccupied) apartments, plus a design flaw from an earlier era, of a lift base sited outside the centre.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The familiar fault lines remain, and London Irish's lively 19-year-old Tom Fowlie nearly had them weeping again.

The Guardian - Sport

Turan's case has caused the elections to spark into life along familiar fault lines, bringing confrontation even more clearly to the surface.

The Guardian - Sport

This parallax error is insignificant with distant subjects; with near ones it is responsible for the familiar fault of a portrait shot of a head that appears partly cut off in the picture even though it was fully visible in the finder.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The talks in Cancún, which were scheduled for Nov. 29 to Dec. 10, were weakened by familiar fault lines between developing and developed countries over sharing the burden of cuts in greenhouse gas emissions after 2012, when the present round of the Kyoto Protocol expires.

The New York Times

A familiar fault line has emerged: "The euro crisis has sharpened the focus on old divisions over the role of the state in the economy and in people's lives," said Ute Frevert, director of the Center for the History of Emotions at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin.

The New York Times

Indeed, the digital divide is now seen by some as social problem as much as a technical one (Fuchs 2008; Smith and Brenner 2012) and one that has "emerged along the familiar fault lines of social inequality" (Chen and Wellman 2005).

Crime Science

All the familiar fault lines have fractured to create new patterns of connection between old enemies, leaving old friends angry and isolated.

Huffington Post

The debate has fractured along now-familiar fault lines, with Vice President Dick Cheney and conservative hawks in the administration portraying the Israeli intelligence as credible and arguing that it should cause the United States to reconsider its diplomatic overtures to Syria and North Korea.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, they have not prevented some familiar old faults from emerging.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "familiar faults", ensure the context clearly establishes what these faults are to avoid ambiguity. Providing specific examples can enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "familiar faults" without providing sufficient context, assuming the audience is already aware of the specific issues. Always aim for clarity, even if the faults seem obvious to you.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "familiar faults" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "familiar" modifies the noun "faults". It identifies errors or shortcomings that are known or expected based on prior experience. As pointed out by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "familiar faults" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote recurring or well-known shortcomings. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is commonly used and is appropriate for a variety of settings. Analysis of source types reveals that it appears most often in News & Media and Science contexts. While grammatically correct, it's best to use the phrase with context to provide clarity. Consider alternatives like "common flaws" or "typical shortcomings" depending on the intended emphasis. While used correctly in English, be sure to define, as needed, the "familiar faults" you are referring to for greater impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

common flaws

Emphasizes the widespread nature of the imperfections.

typical shortcomings

Highlights the usual or expected inadequacies.

well-known defects

Focuses on the recognized and established imperfections.

recurring errors

Stresses the repetitive nature of the mistakes.

frequent failings

Highlights how often the negative instances happen.

usual imperfections

Underlines the standard or expected nature of the flaws.

recognized limitations

Emphasizes the acknowledged boundaries or constraints.

established weaknesses

Focuses on the long-standing and accepted vulnerabilities.

inherent limitations

Highlights limitations which are presented by nature.

predictable issues

Indicates that the problems are expected or anticipated.

FAQs

What does "familiar faults" mean?

The phrase "familiar faults" refers to commonly known or frequently encountered errors, defects, or shortcomings within a specific context or situation.

How can I use "familiar faults" in a sentence?

You can use "familiar faults" to describe recurring problems or well-known weaknesses. For example, "The team's performance was hindered by their "familiar faults" in communication."

What are some alternatives to "familiar faults"?

Some alternatives to "familiar faults" include "common flaws", "typical shortcomings", or "well-known defects", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "familiar faults" or "common mistakes"?

Both "familiar faults" and "common mistakes" are acceptable, but "familiar faults" often implies a deeper, more systemic issue, while "common mistakes" suggests more general, easily correctable errors. The best choice depends on the specific context.