had malfunctioned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had malfunctioned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something has failed to operate properly in the past, often in a narrative or technical context. Example: "The machine had malfunctioned during the critical phase of the operation, causing delays."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Residents said the boiler had malfunctioned last week.

The New York Times

It was not the first time the iPhone software had malfunctioned on a wide scale.

The New York Times - Tech

He didn't hear any noise, and wondered if the gun had malfunctioned.

The New Yorker

The McCain campaign put out word that Palin's teleprompter had malfunctioned.

The New Yorker

But because the night was so cold, the machine had malfunctioned.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was not immediately clear whether the helicopter had malfunctioned or what caused the crash.

The New York Times

The Sony Corporation said some of its new PlayStation2 video game consoles had malfunctioned.

The New York Times

He said officials were trying to determine how many machines had malfunctioned.

The New York Times

Officials said they did not know which pilot wire had malfunctioned or why.

The New York Times

But the police said there were no indications that the vehicle had malfunctioned.

The New York Times

A month after Marchella came home, Ms. Brett-Pierce took her to the hospital because the breathing tube had malfunctioned.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the cause of an event, clarify the specific component that "had malfunctioned" to provide more detail. For example, instead of "the system had malfunctioned", specify "the system's cooling unit had malfunctioned".

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice when it obscures the cause of the malfunction. Instead of saying "the device had malfunctioned", try "a power surge caused the device to malfunction" for a more direct and informative statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had malfunctioned" primarily functions as a past perfect verb phrase. It's used to indicate that a malfunction occurred and was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Wiki

11%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had malfunctioned" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect verb phrase, as verified by Ludwig. It describes a past operational failure, and is typically employed in neutral contexts, with news reports being the most common. While alternatives like "experienced a malfunction" or "failed to operate correctly" exist, the phrase is clear and effective. Pay attention to the specific component that malfunctioned, and avoid overuse of passive voice for improved clarity. Ludwig's examples illustrate its versatile use across various forms of writing and communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

experienced a malfunction

Replaces "had malfunctioned" with a different verb and article, emphasizing the occurrence of a malfunction.

failed to operate correctly

Substitutes "had malfunctioned" with a more descriptive phrase indicating incorrect operation.

stopped working properly

Uses simpler language to convey the same meaning of ceasing to function as intended.

developed a fault

Indicates the emergence of a flaw that caused the malfunctioning.

ceased to function

More formal way of expressing that something stopped working.

broke down

A common, less technical way of saying something stopped working.

was out of order

Describes the state of being non-operational, often used for equipment or machinery.

went wrong

A general way to say that something did not work as planned.

had a technical issue

Highlights a problem of a technical nature.

became defective

Focuses on the condition of being faulty or impaired.

FAQs

How can I use "had malfunctioned" in a sentence?

Use "had malfunctioned" to describe a past event where something failed to work correctly. For example, "The sensor "had malfunctioned", leading to inaccurate readings."

What are some alternatives to "had malfunctioned"?

Alternatives include "experienced a malfunction", "failed to operate correctly", or "stopped working properly".

Is it correct to say "has malfunctioned" instead of "had malfunctioned"?

The choice depends on the context. "Has malfunctioned" indicates a malfunction that started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present. "Had malfunctioned" refers to a completed action in the past.

What's the difference between "malfunction" and "failure"?

"Malfunction" typically implies a temporary or minor operational issue, while "failure" suggests a more complete or critical breakdown. Both terms can often be used interchangeably, but "failure" might indicate a more severe problem.