significant downtime

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significant downtime" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing periods of time when a system, service, or operation is not functioning or unavailable, often in a technical or business context. Example: "The server experienced significant downtime last week, affecting our ability to process transactions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"And when this doesn't happen, it can lead to significant downtime and delays".

The Guardian - Business

And events like weight lifting and archery -- which have significant downtime between competitors -- will not be seen continuously, but in pieces.

The New York Times

The failure of dc/dc converters can directly result in electronic systems working unconventionally or significant downtime.

Microelectronics Reliability

Likewise, if Google were to violate customers' trust by not properly securing their data or if its platform suffered significant downtime, those derelictions, too, could trigger a large-scale loss of customers.

Harvard Business Review

Traditionally, automated material handling systems are not designed to be reconfigurable and changes to layouts and material flow directions often require significant downtime for physical modifications and reprogramming to be made.

Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing

Unattended operation of the instrument revealed exceptional overall performance: Reproducibility (1 5% deviation in uncorrected elution times), repeatability (<20% deviation in detected abundances for more abundant peptides from the same aliquot analyzed a few weeks apart), and robustness (high-throughput operation for 5 months without significant downtime).

Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

However, error compensation by measurement of geometric errors is greatly affected by the error modeling and error measurement methods, which could require significant machine downtime to implement.

Journal of Manufacturing Systems

Businesses today operate in an environment where significant application downtime and data loss lead easily to lost productivity, lost revenue and lost customers.

Forbes

It would be fair to say that not even Pokémon Go's developer Niantic did, as, despite their enormous success, the overwhelming demand from users led to reports of significant server downtime at launch (not helped by DDoS attacks).

TechCrunch

During CRRT, nonetheless, many variables may affect the effective delivery of treatment dose: if the molecular weight of different solutes is certainly an important aspect, the time factor appears to be an essential variable as well; interruptions cause a clinically significant therapy downtime and increase discrepancy between prescription and effective delivery [ 8].

Critical Care

Significant reductions in downtime and wasted pet food related to packaging.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significant downtime", quantify the impact if possible. For example, specify the duration of the downtime or the financial losses incurred.

Common error

Avoid attributing "significant downtime" to vague reasons. Instead of saying "due to unforeseen circumstances", be specific about the cause, such as "due to a server malfunction" or "due to a cyberattack".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant downtime" functions as a noun phrase, where "significant" modifies the noun "downtime". It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, describing a period of inactivity or interruption. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "significant downtime" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that describes a period of substantial inactivity or interruption. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's found across news, scientific, and business contexts, often highlighting the impact of the downtime. When using the phrase, consider quantifying the impact and specifying the cause to provide clarity. Alternatives such as "prolonged period of inactivity" or "major service interruption" can be used to add variety or emphasize different aspects of the downtime.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prolonged period of inactivity

This alternative emphasizes the length of the downtime, suggesting a longer duration.

extended period of unavailability

Focuses on the system or service being unavailable for a considerable time.

major service interruption

Highlights the disruption to a service and the scale of the interruption.

considerable operational delay

Emphasizes the impact of the downtime on operations, suggesting a noteworthy delay.

lengthy system outage

This phrase focuses on the system being out of service and the extended duration of the outage.

substantial non-operational period

A more formal way of expressing downtime, highlighting the period when operations are not running.

appreciable lapse in service

Focuses on the noticeable gap in service provision due to the downtime.

notable period of idleness

Emphasizes the inactivity or idleness resulting from the downtime.

marked cessation of activity

Highlights the complete stop of activity, emphasizing the severity of the downtime.

extensive idle time

This phrase focuses on the large amount of time that a system or process is not actively working.

FAQs

How can I use "significant downtime" in a sentence?

You can use "significant downtime" to describe a period when a system, service, or operation is unavailable. For example: "The company experienced "significant downtime" due to a power outage."

What are some alternatives to "significant downtime"?

Alternatives include phrases like "prolonged period of inactivity", "major service interruption", or "lengthy system outage", depending on the context.

What's the difference between "significant downtime" and "minor downtime"?

"Significant downtime" implies a substantial disruption and impact, while "minor downtime" suggests a brief and less impactful interruption. The choice depends on the severity and consequences of the event.

Is it more appropriate to use "significant downtime" or "considerable downtime"?

Both "significant downtime" and "considerable downtime" are appropriate and largely interchangeable. "Significant" might subtly emphasize the importance or impact of the downtime, but the difference is minimal.