in breakdown

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in breakdown" is not commonly used in written English and may not be clear without context.
It can be used in contexts related to analysis or disassembly, often referring to a situation where something is being examined in detail or is in a state of failure. Example: "The report is currently in breakdown, highlighting the issues we need to address."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And often a career of great promise ends suddenly, in breakdown or death.

The Economist

Needless to say, his initiative was completely useless, and the debt talks were in breakdown.

The New York Times

Ronald Reagan and "Reefer Madness" shared screen time in "Breakdown," billed as a "sample-based hybrid opera in one act".

The New York Times - Arts

Deep in the detail of a raft of new official adult social care statistics are the unmistakeable signs of a system in breakdown.

The Guardian

Poor placement results in breakdown, and the report shows that 34% of children had more than one placement in the previous year; 11% had three or more moves.

The Guardian

Bitch (Dir: Marianna Palka) New film from the Good Dick director, about a woman (played by Palka herself) in breakdown who starts acting like a dog.

The Guardian - Film

She reminded the audience that people who are in breakdown mode – struggling to make ends meet – need some lightness in their lives too.

The Guardian

In "Breakdown," written by Mr. Perdomo and arranged (as was the rest) by Mr. Benítez, Mr. Zenon wound up to full strength, and he was impressive.

The New York Times - Arts

In "Breakdown" (2001), Michael Landy spent two memorable weeks smashing up his possessions in a London department store, as a comment on consumerism.

The Economist

As Mostow proved in "Breakdown" and "U-571," he can churn out excitement at a steady pace; whether he can handle dread — altogether a more unstable material — is another matter.

The New Yorker

Mr. Zoeter and Mr. Huebner had their moments to shine as well, and Mr. Gellev held the spotlight with some virtuosic fiddling in "Breakdown Tango" (2000) by John Mackey, another work written for the group.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the specific context when using "in breakdown". While grammatically sound, alternative phrases may offer more precision and clarity depending on whether you're discussing a system failure, a personal crisis, or a detailed analysis.

Common error

While "in breakdown" is generally acceptable, avoid overuse in formal writing. Opt for more precise and sophisticated alternatives like "in disarray" or "under analysis" /s/under+analysis to enhance the clarity and impact of your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in breakdown" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, often acting as an adverbial modifier to describe the state or condition of a noun. Ludwig's examples show it modifying various nouns, such as 'system', 'talks', and 'social care'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in breakdown" is a prepositional phrase commonly used to describe something that is failing, disintegrating, or undergoing detailed analysis. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in science, news and media, and formal business. While acceptable, it's advisable to consider the specific context and opt for more precise alternatives like "in disrepair" or "under analysis" to improve clarity and sophistication, especially in formal writing. As Ludwig AI points out, consider context to choose the best option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in a state of failure

Directly describes a condition where something is not functioning correctly.

not functioning

Simply states the lack of proper operation.

in disrepair

Focuses on the state of being damaged or poorly maintained.

experiencing malfunction

Highlights a problem with the proper functioning.

in a state of collapse

Emphasizes a sudden and complete failure.

inoperative

Describes something not capable of operation.

in disintegration

Highlights the process of falling apart into smaller pieces.

falling apart

Emphasizes the process of something physically breaking down.

out of order

Commonly used to indicate temporary cessation of function.

undergoing analysis

Shifts the focus to a process of detailed examination.

FAQs

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

You can use "in breakdown" to describe something that is failing or being analyzed in detail. For example: "The system is currently in breakdown." or "The relationship ended in breakdown".

What are some alternatives to "in breakdown"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "in disrepair", "in collapse", "under analysis" or "malfunctioning".

Is "in breakdown" formal or informal?

"In breakdown" is generally considered neutral in tone. However, in formal writing, it might be preferable to use more precise alternatives like "in disarray" or "under analysis".

What does it mean when something is "in breakdown"?

When something is "in breakdown", it means it is either failing, disintegrating, or undergoing a detailed process of analysis. The exact meaning depends on the context in which it's used.