unexpected breakdown

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unexpected breakdown" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a malfunction of machinery or equipment, or to a disruption of order or normal function due to an unforeseen factor. For example: The power outage was an unexpected breakdown, causing the factory to shut down for the day.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

In total, the price of wholesale electricity fell 40% in four years, although British Energy added to its own crisis with its ageing reactors increasingly prone to unexpected breakdown.

The Guardian - Business

Here, it seemed, was a micro case study of global collapse at work: an unexpected breakdown in a typically efficient system rendering the contingencies of even the most cautious citizens moot, and concluding in a disorienting din.

The New Yorker

The global market for sensors alone will reach more than $50 billion in 2008, according to Intechno Consulting, a consultancy in Basle, Switzerland.Sensors are nothing new in expensive machinery, where an unexpected breakdown can be costly.

The Economist

The result showed the excavation torque could run up to a critical value in the extremely adverse excavation environments, which might result in an unexpected breakdown of TBM and even a failure of the drive motor.

Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering

The forced outage rate, which is the shutdown condition of a power station due to unexpected breakdown is assumed to be 5% (Thapar 2002) and the scheduled maintenance period is 20 days a year; therefore, the availability factor of the PSHPP is calculated using Eq. (5) (34.1%).

Renewables: Wind, Water, and Solar

The malfunction or an unexpected breakdown of one single piece of equipment may significantly hamper the plant economics; thus, it is of utmost importance that the scaling-up issues are addressed properly each time a critical piece of equipment is designed to exceed the capacity of previous industrial references.

Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The prognostics systems are required for avoiding unexpected breakdowns in the vehicles.

Procedia Computer Science

A power utility's ability to satisfy energy demand can be influenced significantly by unexpected breakdowns of power generating units.

International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems

As an initial practice for realizing the prognostics system, a fault progress model to unexpected breakdowns was built on correlations among cautions/warnings from sensors within telematics data in this study.

Procedia Computer Science

However, a manufacturing system can stop for a short time or it can be out of service for a long time due to crucial problems such as poor performance of old machines, unexpected breakdowns or faulty plant and system design.

Journal of Manufacturing Systems

When they say no to something, they have reasons you may not be aware of - if they say no to a new cell phone, it may be that they had an unexpected car breakdown, or doctor bill, or even a tax bill.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation caused by a "unexpected breakdown", clearly state the consequences or impact of the breakdown to provide context for the reader.

Common error

While "unexpected breakdown" is suitable for technical and formal writing, consider using simpler alternatives like "sudden problem" or "unforeseen issue" in casual conversations to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unexpected breakdown" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a sudden and unforeseen failure or malfunction. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is a correct and usable English phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

39%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unexpected breakdown" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed noun phrase, predominantly utilized within the domains of science and news media to denote sudden and unforeseen system failures. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is both correct and effectively communicative, serving to inform audiences about disruptive events. While suitable for formal contexts, simpler alternatives may be preferable in casual settings. Remember to emphasize the consequences of the "unexpected breakdown" when using the expression to provide greater context. The phrase appears in authoritative sources such as The Guardian, The New Yorker, and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unforeseen failure

Substitutes "unexpected" with "unforeseen" and "breakdown" with "failure", highlighting the unanticipated nature of the event.

sudden malfunction

Replaces "breakdown" with "malfunction" and "unexpected" with "sudden", focusing on the abruptness of the failure.

surprise failure

Uses "surprise" to emphasize the lack of anticipation and "failure" as a more general term for "breakdown".

sudden system failure

Adds "system" to clarify the context and focuses on the abrupt failure, using "sudden" instead of "unexpected".

sudden operational halt

Highlights the abrupt stop of operations, replacing "breakdown" with "operational halt" and "unexpected" with "sudden".

unanticipated disruption

Replaces "breakdown" with "disruption", emphasizing the disturbance caused by the unexpected event.

unpredicted outage

Focuses on the interruption of service or operation, using "outage" to replace "breakdown" and "unpredicted" to replace "unexpected".

unforeseen complication

Shifts the focus to the complication arising from the unexpected event, rather than the event itself.

abrupt cessation of function

A more formal and technical alternative, replacing "unexpected breakdown" with a detailed description of the event.

sudden cessation

Shortens the phrase to emphasize the abrupt stop, using "cessation" as a formal alternative to "breakdown".

FAQs

How can I use "unexpected breakdown" in a sentence?

You can use "unexpected breakdown" to describe a sudden failure or malfunction. For example, "The factory experienced an unexpected breakdown, halting production."

What are some alternatives to "unexpected breakdown"?

Alternatives include "sudden malfunction", "unforeseen failure", or "unanticipated disruption", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "unexpected breakdown" or "unforeseen breakdown"?

Both "unexpected breakdown" and "unforeseen breakdown" are correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on stylistic preference.

What does "unexpected breakdown" typically refer to?

"Unexpected breakdown" generally refers to a sudden and unanticipated failure of machinery, systems, or processes.