numerous breakdowns

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "numerous breakdowns" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there are many instances of failure or malfunction, often in a technical or mechanical context. Example: "The project faced numerous breakdowns, leading to significant delays in the timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The Lakers had numerous breakdowns.

The New York Times

But the government campaign has seen numerous breakdowns, none more deadly than last month's ambush in Dantewada.

The New York Times

Despite a series of radical design innovations on its yacht, Team New Zealand sustained numerous breakdowns and managed to finish only three of the five races.

The New York Times - Sports

Numerous breakdowns added to the problems, and alternate roads like Route 10 and even dead-end streets saw their share of increased traffic.

The New York Times

And joint ventures with China have turned into numerous breakdowns, though MAN's recent acquisition of a 25% stake in Sinotruck may at last give a Western producer a significant foothold.

The Economist

Central and south western areas were badly affected with numerous breakdowns leading to long queues.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Best: Every product category is enhanced with clicks like auctions, buying guides, consumer reviews and numerous search breakdowns.

Forbes

In 2003, the proof-of-concept fleet experienced poor mobility and numerous sled breakdowns when attempting to cross the Ross Ice Shelf.

Cold Regions Science and Technology

Signed in the off-season to a six-year, $63 million contract with a guarantee of $28 million, Cassel had a mediocre first preseason game against Houston, then spent last week's game against Minnesota running around because of numerous offensive line breakdowns.

The New York Times

He obtained the data from the Internal Revenue Service, which had previously refused numerous requests for detailed breakdowns on the very-highest-income Americans.

The New York Times

"It seems clear that there were numerous failures, inadequacies and breakdowns in the multilayered system designed to protect the integrity of the financial reporting system at WorldCom," the report says.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "numerous breakdowns", ensure the context clearly indicates what is failing or breaking down. For instance, specify if it refers to "system breakdowns", "equipment breakdowns", or "communication breakdowns" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "numerous breakdowns" without specifying the system or component experiencing the failures. Saying "there were numerous breakdowns" lacks clarity. Instead, specify, "There were numerous equipment breakdowns during the testing phase."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "numerous breakdowns" functions as a noun phrase, where "numerous" acts as a determiner quantifying the noun "breakdowns". As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase often serves as the object or subject complement in a sentence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "numerous breakdowns" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe situations characterized by frequent failures or malfunctions. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is appropriate across various contexts, primarily in news, scientific, and formal business domains. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what is breaking down and consider alternatives like "multiple failures" or "frequent malfunctions" to fine-tune the message. While acceptable in both formal and informal settings, context determines the register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

multiple failures

Replaces "breakdowns" with the more general term "failures", simplifying the phrase while retaining the core meaning.

frequent malfunctions

Substitutes "breakdowns" with "malfunctions", highlighting the operational aspect of the failures.

several system failures

Specifies that the failures are related to a system, making the context more explicit.

recurring operational failures

Highlights the operational aspect and the recurring nature of the failures.

repeated incidents of failure

Emphasizes the recurring nature of the failures with a more descriptive phrase.

a multitude of malfunctions

Uses "multitude" to emphasize the large number of malfunctions, adding a more formal tone.

a high frequency of faults

Focuses on the frequency of faults, which lead to breakdowns.

a series of crashes

Implies more severe failures, particularly in contexts involving systems or machines.

many instances of collapse

Replaces "breakdowns" with "collapse", suggesting a structural or systemic failure.

various incidents of disruption

Broadens the scope to include any form of disruption caused by the failures.

FAQs

How can I use "numerous breakdowns" in a sentence?

You can use "numerous breakdowns" to describe situations with frequent failures. For example: "The project experienced numerous breakdowns, causing significant delays" or "The old machinery suffered numerous breakdowns during the summer months".

What are some alternatives to using "numerous breakdowns"?

Alternatives include "multiple failures", "frequent malfunctions", or "repeated incidents of failure", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "numerous breakdowns" or "many breakdowns"?

"Numerous breakdowns" and "many breakdowns" are often interchangeable. "Numerous" suggests a more formal tone and implies a count that is significant enough to cause concern, while "many" is more general.

What does "numerous breakdowns" imply about a system or process?

"Numerous breakdowns" suggests that the system or process is unreliable, poorly maintained, or inherently flawed. It indicates a significant problem that requires attention and likely corrective action.