Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
found malfunctioning
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "found malfunctioning" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an object or system that has been discovered to be in a state of disrepair or not functioning properly. Example: "The technician reported that the equipment was found malfunctioning during the routine inspection."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Science
Alternative expressions(2)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
When regulators visited, they found malfunctioning fire doors, unhygienic kitchens and a resident using a leg brace that was broken.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
58 human-written examples
Significant correlation was found between malfunctioning in some SCL-90-R dimensions and pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia scores at the visual analog score (VAS).
After a few days, he found a malfunction in the circuit and fixed it by soldering in a few extra components (capacitors, to be exact).
News & Media
The Nokia-branded BL-5C battery has been found to malfunction on rare occasions, and overheat while being charged.
News & Media
They found serious malfunctions in the system including some alarm systems, cameras and sensors that had been inoperable for nine months.
News & Media
"We found a malfunction in an air speed indicator instrument in the last four flights, including the crash flight," Nurcahyo Utomo, a captain with the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT), told CNN. "We ask NTSB and Boeing to work on this to prevent the same accident from happening in the future".
News & Media
"We found a malfunction in an air speed indicator instrument in the last four flights, including the crash flight," Nurcahyo Utomo, a captain with the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT), told CNN. "We ask NTSB and Boeing to work on this to prevent same accident happening in the future".
News & Media
Signalling pathways have been found to malfunction in chondrocytes and synovial cells in OA and RA.
A simulation for 10% of cells being unhealthy found no malfunction in an extremely long time (comparable to the time for the 125 cell model runs).
Science
In eukaryotes, it was found that the malfunctioning of chaperones aggravated phenotypic aberrations associated with mutations.
Science
Here domain-specific analytical problem-solving competencies were operationalized by the ability to find a malfunction in an automated system (Walker et al. 2016).
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "found malfunctioning", clearly state what was inspected or tested and under what conditions the malfunction was observed. For example, specify "the sensor was found malfunctioning during the calibration test."
Common error
Avoid using "found malfunctioning" when you mean "found to be malfunctioning". The former implies that the act of finding itself caused the malfunction. Instead, specify: "The device was found to be malfunctioning."
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "found malfunctioning" acts as a descriptive predicate, indicating the state of a subject upon discovery. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in describing discovered faults or states of disrepair, as seen in examples provided.
Frequent in
News & Media
43%
Science
55%
Formal & Business
2%
Less common in
Wiki
1%
Academia
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "found malfunctioning" is grammatically sound and widely used to describe the discovery of a fault or improper function. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage. It commonly appears in both news and scientific contexts and serves to objectively report an identified problem. While acceptable as is, "found to be malfunctioning" offers greater grammatical precision. When using "found malfunctioning", be specific about what was inspected and the circumstances under which the malfunction was observed.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
discovered to be defective
Replaces "found" with "discovered" and "malfunctioning" with the synonym "defective", indicating the item was revealed to be faulty.
identified as faulty
"Identified" implies a more formal recognition of the issue, while "faulty" suggests a specific flaw.
determined to be non-operational
Uses more technical language, specifying the item's inability to function.
observed to be out of order
"Observed" suggests a visual confirmation of the problem; "out of order" is a common phrase for broken items.
noticed to be impaired
"Noticed" indicates a casual finding, and "impaired" suggests a reduced functionality.
detected as having a problem
"Detected" implies use of an instrument or method to find the issue; "having a problem" is a general description.
revealed to be broken
"Revealed" suggests something previously hidden is now known; "broken" means completely non-functional.
diagnosed with a defect
"Diagnosed" is often used for mechanical or technical issues, implying a deeper analysis.
ascertained to be inoperative
"Ascertained" implies a firm conclusion after investigation; "inoperative" is a formal synonym for not working.
established as non-functional
"Established" suggests confirmation; "non-functional" is a broad term for not working.
FAQs
How can I use "found malfunctioning" in a sentence?
You can use "found malfunctioning" to describe a situation where something was discovered to not be working correctly. For example: "The equipment was "found malfunctioning" during the routine check."
What are some alternatives to "found malfunctioning"?
Alternatives include phrases like "discovered to be defective", "identified as faulty", or "determined to be non-operational". The best choice depends on the specific context.
Is it better to say "found malfunctioning" or "found to be malfunctioning"?
While "found malfunctioning" is acceptable, "found to be malfunctioning" is more grammatically precise and avoids potential ambiguity. The latter clearly indicates that the malfunction existed prior to being found.
What does it mean when something is "found malfunctioning"?
It means that upon inspection or use, something was discovered not to be functioning as intended or designed. This could apply to equipment, systems, or even biological processes.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested