suffered a fall

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "suffered a fall" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a physical fall where the person has injured themselves, e.g. "He suffered a fall from his bike and broke his arm".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Gates actually suffered a fall on New Year's Day in his home in Washington State and fractured his first vertebrae.

Los Angeles Times

Levine, who suffered a fall from the podium last year, is on leave until 2013.

Huffington Post

Fragapane, 16, who won a record-equalling four gold medals for England at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, suffered a fall early in the floor routine.

BBC

An Austrian prevalence study revealed in 2011 that 2.1% of all patients suffered a fall during their hospitalisation.

BMC Nursing

In the UK fur has suffered a fall from grace.

The Guardian

The police said he had suffered a fall.

The Guardian - Books

It had suffered a fall in the value of some assets.

The Economist

Geoff Sutton, 72, suffered a fall five days a go at his home.

Independent

McCourt had recently suffered a fall, and he'd had seven stitches removed that morning.

The New Yorker

The last time the firm suffered a fall in annual profits was in the early 2000s.

The Guardian - Business

Mr. Levine, the Met's music director, suffered a fall while on vacation and withdrew at least until January.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "suffered a fall" when you want to convey that the fall had negative consequences, such as injuries or losses.

Common error

While acceptable, "suffered a fall" can sometimes sound overly dramatic in very formal or scientific writing. Consider using more neutral terms like "experienced a fall" in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suffered a fall" functions as a verb phrase, typically serving as the predicate of a sentence. It indicates that someone or something has experienced a fall, usually implying negative consequences such as injury or decline. As seen in Ludwig, the phrase commonly describes physical accidents.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

14%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "suffered a fall" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe an event where someone or something has fallen, typically implying negative consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. While versatile across various contexts, it's most frequently found in News & Media and Science. When writing, consider whether a literal or metaphorical fall is being described and adjust your tone accordingly. Alternative phrases such as "sustained a fall" or "had a tumble" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sustained a fall

Emphasizes the act of undergoing the fall, with a slightly more formal tone.

experienced a fall

A more neutral and clinical way to describe the event.

fell and was injured

Explicitly states the outcome of the fall being an injury.

lost balance and fell

Highlights the reason for the fall being a loss of equilibrium.

took a spill

Suggests a sudden and uncontrolled fall, often used colloquially.

stumbled and fell

Details the action that led to the fall.

was a victim of a fall

Focuses on the person as the receiver of an unfortunate event.

had a tumble

Implies a less severe fall, often used in informal contexts.

had an accident involving a fall

Frames the fall as part of a broader accidental event.

succumbed to a fall

Implies that the fall had serious consequences.

FAQs

How can I use "suffered a fall" in a sentence?

You can use "suffered a fall" to describe someone who has physically fallen and experienced negative consequences. For example, "The elderly woman "suffered a fall" in her home and broke her hip".

What can I say instead of "suffered a fall"?

You can use alternatives like "sustained a fall", "had a tumble", or "took a spill" depending on the context and the severity of the fall.

Which is correct, "suffered a fall" or "had a fall"?

Both "suffered a fall" and "had a fall" are grammatically correct. However, ""suffered a fall"" implies negative consequences or injury resulting from the fall, while "had a fall" is more neutral.

Is "suffered a fall" only used for physical falls?

While primarily used for physical falls, ""suffered a fall"" can also be used metaphorically to describe a decline or setback in other areas, such as business or reputation, though this is less common.