prone to mess

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prone to mess" is not standard in written English and may be considered awkward or unclear.
It can be used when describing someone or something that is likely to create disorder or chaos, but it would be better to use a more established expression. Example: "He is prone to mess when he gets overwhelmed with tasks."

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Both the virtuous adult and the nice child have good intentions, but the child is much more prone to mess things up because he is ignorant of what he needs to know in order to do what he intends.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We're all prone to messing up from time to time.

Huffington Post

If you don't have much time, you could just use big strips of duct tape instead, but you're more prone to messing up this way.

WikiHow

Mr Sarkozy's boastful, erratic, error-prone presidency is beginning, as he intended, to mess with the collective French mind and make the country more can-do and more proactive.

Independent

I like to mess around with mess.

The New York Times

To mess up.

Huffington Post

You don't want to mess with her.

BMC Pediatrics

Try not to mess up.

WikiHow

As for Dara, she is a quivering mess, prone to long unhappy affairs and betrayal by other sleazes.

The New York Times - Books

Being tired can make lots of students irritated and more prone to misbehavior, including acting out, messing with friends, and even falling asleep in class.

WikiHow

Except that's nothing like the boys and girls I know, who are prone to be more similar in their freewheeling, mess-making, helter-skelter, tantrum-throwing wonderfulness than they are different.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common alternatives like "likely to make a mess" or "tends to mess things up" for improved clarity and naturalness in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "prone to mess" in highly formal or professional writing. While grammatically correct, it can sound awkward. Opt for more sophisticated phrases like "susceptible to errors" or "liable to create complications" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prone to mess" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes something or someone that has a tendency or likelihood to create a mess. As Ludwig AI points out, using more common alternatives might be preferable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "prone to mess" is a grammatically acceptable way to describe something or someone likely to create disorder. However, as Ludwig AI shows, it's relatively rare and may sound awkward in formal contexts. More common alternatives such as "likely to make a mess" or "tends to mess things up" are generally preferred for clarity and naturalness. The phrase appears in a mix of news, wiki, and science-related sources, indicating a somewhat broad but not particularly deep distribution. When writing, consider the context and choose a more elegant alternative if a formal tone is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

likely to make a mess

Replaces "prone to" with the more common "likely to", making the phrase sound more natural.

tends to mess things up

Uses "tends to" to convey the inclination and adds "things up" for clarity.

inclined to make a mess

Substitutes "prone" with "inclined", offering a slightly more formal alternative.

apt to create a mess

Replaces "prone" with "apt", implying a natural tendency.

liable to mess things up

Uses "liable" to suggest a higher probability of creating a mess.

has a tendency to mess up

Emphasizes the habitual nature of messing up.

often messes things up

Focuses on the frequency of messing up.

is predisposed to making a mess

Suggests a inherent disposition towards creating a mess, adding a more formal tone.

runs the risk of messing up

Highlights the potential negative consequence of making a mess.

easily makes a mess

Emphasizes the ease with which a mess is created.

FAQs

What does "prone to" mean?

"Prone to" means likely to experience or do something, typically something negative. It indicates a tendency or inclination towards a particular outcome.

What are some synonyms for "prone to mess"?

Alternatives include "likely to make a mess", "tends to mess things up", or "inclined to make a mess".

Is it better to say "prone to mess" or "prone to messing up"?

"Prone to messing up" is often more natural-sounding because it uses a gerund. However, "prone to mess" can be used when "mess" is understood as a noun referring to a chaotic situation.

How can I use "prone to" in a sentence?

You can use "prone to" to describe a person or thing that is likely to experience something, such as "This old car is prone to breakdowns" or "He is prone to anxiety attacks".