give a breakdown

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "give a breakdown" is correct and usable in written English.
You might use it to refer to a list of items or to a description of something that has been divided into parts. For example: "Please give a breakdown of the expenses you incurred during your trip."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Officials would not give a breakdown of the countries where the other suspects or children live.

The New York Times

He declined to give a breakdown of the number of military and civilian deaths.

The New York Times

Some township government Web sites that give a breakdown of goals for officials list population control as a priority.

The New York Times

Officials would not give a breakdown of how many were for the public and how many for the Olympic committee.

The New York Times - Sports

General Simmons declined to give a breakdown of the attacks in the northern belt, from Taji to Mosul.

The New York Times

That said, Rays Index does give a breakdown of the pitching matchups for the final three games of the season between the Rays and Yankees.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Doll gave a breakdown of the list.

The New Yorker

As licence-fee payers, we should be given a breakdown.

The Guardian

It gave a breakdown showing that the preponderance of the victims, 73 percent, were younger than 18, with the largest group 13 to 16 years old.

The New York Times

The New York Times quoted hospital records giving a breakdown of civilian deaths according to region, gender and age for a six-month period up to April 5 this year.

The Guardian

The list below gives a breakdown of the key points: Temperature "The increase in global temperature should be below two degrees".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In business or formal writing, consider stronger alternatives like "provide a detailed analysis" for a more professional tone.

Common error

Avoid using "give a breakdown" when you only offer a high-level overview. Reserve this phrase for scenarios where you genuinely dissect information into smaller, understandable components.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "give a breakdown" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often used to request or offer a detailed explanation or analysis of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "give a breakdown" is a commonly used and grammatically correct verb phrase that means to provide a detailed explanation or analysis. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While "give a breakdown" is suitable for news and general contexts, consider using more formal alternatives like ""provide a detailed analysis"" in academic or professional settings. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media and Science sources, aiming to elucidate complex information into more understandable components. It is important to use the phrase when you are actually providing a detailed and categorized explanation, not just a superficial summary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

break down the components

Focuses on dissecting something into its constituent parts.

provide a detailed analysis

Emphasizes a thorough and in-depth examination of something.

offer a comprehensive explanation

Focuses on supplying a full and complete understanding.

present a categorized list

Highlights the act of organizing information into distinct groups.

furnish a granular report

Implies providing a report with very fine-grained details.

supply a itemized statement

Stresses the provision of a statement where each item is listed separately.

offer item-by-item clarification

Emphasizes clarifying each item individually.

furnish a line-by-line review

Similar to granular report, but more specific to documents or reports.

present a stratified overview

Emphasis on dividing the information into layers or levels.

itemize the factors involved

Focuses on providing a list of individual factors.

FAQs

How can I use "give a breakdown" in a sentence?

You can use "give a breakdown" to request or offer a detailed explanation, as in, "Can you give a breakdown of the project costs?" or "I can "provide a detailed analysis" of the market trends".

What's a more formal alternative to "give a breakdown"?

In formal settings, consider using phrases like ""provide a detailed analysis"", "present a comprehensive explanation", or "furnish an itemized statement" for a more professional tone.

Is "give a breakdown" suitable for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "give a breakdown" might be considered too informal for some academic contexts. Opt for more precise and formal alternatives such as "offer a rigorous analysis" or "present a stratified overview".

How does "give a breakdown" differ from "provide a summary"?

"Give a breakdown" implies a detailed, categorized explanation, while "provide a summary" suggests a brief overview of the main points. A breakdown goes deeper and offers more granular information.