the system crashed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the system crashed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a failure or malfunction of a computer system or software. Example: "After the update, the system crashed, and we lost all our unsaved work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

"What was I doing before the system crashed?

The New Yorker

Staff were forced to revert to pen and paper after the system crashed.

The Guardian

Kline typed a G, at which point the system crashed, and the connection was lost.

The Guardian - Tech

For half a century before that, the system crashed regularly; for half a century afterward, it didn't crash at all.

The New Yorker

After the system crashed, many election officers went by helicopter to Nairobi, the capital, for a manual count.The mess should have been avoidable.

The Economist

All day, trained application counselors typed in "Florida," or got as far as entering some applicants' personal information, before the system crashed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

The system crashes all the time and work is lost.

The Guardian

Now Ford has issued a major upgrade that redesigns much of what customers see on the screen and tries to resolve complaints about the system crashing or rebooting while the vehicle is being driven.

The New York Times

The failure in these pathways (brakes) results in the pregnancy going out of control and the system crashing.

British Journal of Pharmacology

Right before the banking system crashed, the financial sector accounted for an astonishing 40percentt of corporate profits.

Huffington Post

However, many people found they could not visit any sites as the server behind the filtering system crashed.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a system failure, use "the system crashed" to clearly indicate an abrupt and unexpected termination of function. This phrase is easily understood and widely accepted in both technical and non-technical contexts.

Common error

While "the system crashed" is acceptable in general communication, it might be too informal for professional reports. Use more precise and descriptive language like "experienced a failure" or "malfunctioned" in formal documentation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the system crashed" functions as a statement describing an unexpected and abrupt failure of a computer or other complex system. It is commonly used to report incidents where normal operation is interrupted, as seen in Ludwig's examples from news and technical contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "the system crashed" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a system failure. Ludwig provides numerous examples showcasing its usage across various contexts, primarily in news and media, but also in science and encyclopedias. While generally neutral in register, it may be considered too informal for certain professional reports. Alternatives like "the system failed" or "the system malfunctioned" offer more formal options. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is a straightforward way to report an abrupt system failure, clearly communicating the event to a broad audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the system failed

Replaces "crashed" with a more general term for malfunction.

the system went down

Uses a common idiom for system unavailability.

the system malfunctioned

Replaces "crashed" with a more formal term for improper functioning.

the system broke down

Uses another common idiom for a system ceasing to function.

the system experienced a failure

Formal phrasing emphasizing the occurrence of a failure.

the system had an outage

Focuses on the resulting interruption of service.

the system collapsed

Implies a more severe and widespread failure.

the system stopped working

Simplifies the language to describe the issue.

the system became unresponsive

Describes the state of the system before crashing.

the program terminated unexpectedly

Focuses on software failures instead of the global 'system'.

FAQs

What does "the system crashed" mean?

The phrase "the system crashed" means that a computer system or software has abruptly stopped functioning, often resulting in data loss or requiring a restart.

What can I say instead of "the system crashed"?

You can use alternatives like "the system failed", "the system went down", or "the system malfunctioned" depending on the context.

Is "the system crashed" too informal for professional writing?

While generally acceptable, "the system crashed" can be considered informal. For formal documents, consider using phrases like "the system experienced a failure" or "the system malfunctioned".

How do I troubleshoot after "the system crashed"?

Troubleshooting steps typically involve restarting the system, checking error logs, and diagnosing potential hardware or software issues. Consulting technical support may also be necessary.