issue broke down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "issue broke down" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey that a problem or situation has deteriorated or become complicated, but the phrasing is awkward. Example: "The issue broke down into several smaller problems that needed to be addressed individually."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Talks with Mexico and Canada about the issue broke down after Sept. 11.

The New York Times

The last round of talks between Iran and the wider international community over the issue broke down in April, with seemingly little progress.

The Guardian

Talks over the issue broke down at the Brazilian Grand Prix. "There are no guarantees we can close that gap significantly to Mercedes but not having the opportunity to do so seems pretty unpalatable," Horner said.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The numbers break down to some extent along geographic and partisan lines (more Democrats and Independents are pro-reform than Republicans), but the most interesting thing is how the issue breaks down along age lines.

Huffington Post

Members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference walked off the job last Wednesday after talks over pension issues broke down, shutting down freight traffic across the country.

The New York Times

But, as Keller barely pauses to acknowledge, such collective issues break down into millions of complex individual realities — realities that go largely ignored in his Op-Ed, which treats Adams's personal choices as an occasion for moral legislation about the wisdom of resigning oneself to death.

The New Yorker

Women also commented that " The health professional should be confident in asking the questions – not hiding behind language" and that health professionals should " Be aware of language issues – break down big words so people understand".

Health Research Policy and Systems

[C6.] China Policy Divides American Business Owners The unified support from the business community that President Bush enjoys on almost every other issue breaks down when it comes to China trade and currency.

The New York Times

Revenue-sharing percentages became an issue that broke down the talks.

TechCrunch

We were an integrated service – with social and healthcare teams working together – but because of funding issues, that broke down.

The Guardian

We understood that there were these four ways that people were generally approaching this issue, and it broke down very well, so it just become more of an investigation.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a failed negotiation or deteriorating situation, use stronger verbs like "collapsed", "deteriorated", or "failed" for clarity and impact.

Common error

Instead of saying "the issue broke down", which is grammatically awkward, opt for more precise language such as "the negotiations collapsed" or "the problem deteriorated" to enhance readability and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "issue broke down" attempts to describe the failure or deterioration of a situation. However, it's grammatically awkward and not standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrasing is considered incorrect.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "issue broke down" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and awkward in standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, it is better to use more precise and grammatically sound alternatives such as "talks collapsed", "negotiations failed", or "the issue deteriorated". While the phrase appears in some news and general contexts, opting for clearer language will improve the quality and credibility of your writing. This is especially important in formal or professional settings. Using stronger verbs such as "collapsed" or "deteriorated" is a best practice to ensure clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

talks collapsed

Emphasizes the failure of negotiations or discussions.

negotiations failed

Directly states the unsuccessful outcome of negotiation efforts.

agreement fell apart

Focuses on the disintegration of a potential agreement.

discussions deteriorated

Highlights the worsening condition of the discussions.

situation worsened

Indicates a decline in the overall state of affairs.

problem escalated

Suggests an increase in the severity or intensity of the problem.

matter unraveled

Implies a progressive disintegration of the issue.

relationship soured

Focuses on the deterioration of interpersonal connections due to an issue.

system malfunctioned

Describes a failure in a systematic operation or process.

machinery failed

Refers to a breakdown in mechanical equipment or operations.

FAQs

What is a better way to say "issue broke down"?

Consider using phrases like "talks collapsed", "negotiations failed", or "discussions deteriorated" for more accurate and grammatically sound alternatives.

Is "issue broke down" grammatically correct?

No, "issue broke down" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases that clearly indicate failure or deterioration, such as "the issue deteriorated".

How can I use "break down" correctly in a sentence about an issue?

You can use "break down" to mean analyze or simplify, as in "Let's "break down" the problem into smaller parts". Avoid using it to describe the failure of an issue; instead, say the issue "deteriorated" or "collapsed".

What's the difference between "issue broke down" and "issue deteriorated"?

"Issue broke down" is grammatically incorrect, while "issue deteriorated" is a proper way to describe that a problem has worsened. Use "issue deteriorated" to convey a decline in the condition of the issue.