out of orders

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "out of orders" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "out of order," which is used to indicate that something is not functioning properly or is unavailable. Example: "The elevator is currently out of order, so please use the stairs."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Dialogue was in short supply here, the calling out of orders — "Two sea urchin, two sardines!" — being practically the only verbal exchanges I could overhear.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Detection of out-of-order and response.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

TCP detection of out-of-order and response.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

However, this retransmission technology may generate out-of-order packets.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

In addition, out-of-order packets cause immediate ACK generation.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

- Portals of synchronicity: Look for out-of-order events.

Huffington Post

"That phone is permanently out of order.

The New Yorker

"He is always out of order.

The New Yorker

What if the elevator was out of order?

The New York Times

Read the sentences strips with the answers (out of order).

WikiHow

Bang out of order.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "out of order" (singular) when referring to something that is not functioning correctly. Using "out of orders" is grammatically incorrect.

Common error

Avoid using the plural form "orders" when you mean something is not working. The correct idiom is "out of order".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of orders" functions incorrectly as an adjective phrase attempting to describe a state of malfunction or impropriety. According to Ludwig, the correct form is "out of order".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "out of orders" is grammatically incorrect. The correct and widely accepted phrase is "out of order", which describes something that is not functioning correctly or is inappropriate. Ludwig AI identifies the correct expression as "out of order". Always use the singular form "order" to maintain grammatical accuracy. Common alternatives include "not functioning" and "malfunctioning".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

out of order

Corrects the grammatical error by using the singular "order" to denote a state of being non-functional or inappropriate.

malfunctioning

Replaces the entire phrase with a single word that clearly indicates something is not working correctly.

not functioning

Provides a more descriptive alternative indicating that something is not working as intended.

broken

Offers a simpler and more direct way to say that something is not in working condition.

inoperative

A more formal synonym for "not working", suitable for technical or official contexts.

not in service

Specifically used when something is temporarily unavailable for use, often for maintenance or repairs.

defective

Implies that something has a flaw or imperfection that prevents it from working properly.

non-operational

A formal way of saying something is not currently working or being used.

in disarray

Shifts the meaning to suggest a state of chaos or lack of organization, rather than just malfunction.

unserviceable

Suggests that something is beyond repair or no longer fit for its intended purpose.

FAQs

What does "out of order" mean?

The phrase "out of order" means that something is not functioning correctly or is not in its proper condition. For example, "The elevator is "out of order"."

How to use "out of order" in a sentence?

You can use "out of order" to describe a machine, a system, or even someone's behavior as being not in the correct or expected state. Examples: "The printer is "out of order"", or "His behavior was completely "out of order"".

What can I say instead of "out of order"?

Alternatives to "out of order" include "not functioning", "broken", "malfunctioning", or "not in service" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "out of order" or "out of orders"?

"Out of order" is the correct and commonly used phrase. "Out of orders" is grammatically incorrect. Always use the singular form: "The machine is "out of order"".