was faulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was faulty' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation when something does not work properly. For example: "I tried to turn on the lamp, but it was faulty and wouldn't light up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Intelligence was faulty".

The New York Times - Books

Experiment was faulty or unreliable.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"We didn't believe our product was faulty".

The New York Times

The analysis from there was faulty, however.

The New York Times - Sports

It turned out that the design was faulty.

Yale University

(The request fell through because the German warrant was faulty).

The Economist

"The system of decision-making was faulty," Lord Butler continued.

The Guardian - Opinion

He said that "preliminary results" showed there was faulty intelligence.

The Guardian

Mr. Espaillat denied allegations that the publicizing was faulty.

The New York Times

His evidence was faulty and too sparse, some said.

The New York Times - Arts

He cannot argue, however, that the test was faulty.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing technical issues, use "was faulty" to indicate a specific flaw rather than a general malfunction. For example, "the wiring was faulty" is more precise than "the wiring didn't work".

Common error

Avoid using "was faulty" in contexts where a more nuanced term is appropriate. For instance, instead of saying "the reasoning was faulty", consider "the reasoning was flawed" or "the reasoning was incorrect" for greater precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was faulty" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the state or condition of a noun. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature, reflecting its role in denoting imperfection or malfunction. Examples include, the equipment was faulty.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

15%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

13%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was faulty" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression. Ludwig AI validates that the expression is suitable for written English to describe a situation when something doesn't work properly. It functions as a predicate adjective and is most frequently encountered in News & Media and Academic contexts. While generally neutral in register, it's important to choose more precise language when applicable. Related phrases such as "was defective" or "was malfunctioning" may offer a more nuanced description, depending on the specific context. Overall, "was faulty" is a reliable and versatile phrase for indicating that something has a flaw or is not functioning correctly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was defective

Similar meaning, emphasizing a flaw in design or manufacturing.

had a defect

Emphasizes the presence of a specific flaw.

was flawed

Highlights an imperfection or weakness.

was malfunctioning

Focuses on the operational aspect; something is not working correctly.

was unreliable

Suggests that something cannot be depended upon to function consistently.

was not working

A general term indicating a lack of functionality.

didn't work

Short and simple way to express a lack of functionality.

was out of order

Commonly used for machines and equipment that are temporarily unusable.

was broken

Implies damage that prevents proper function.

was incorrect

Indicates an error or inaccuracy, especially in data or information.

FAQs

How can I use "was faulty" in a sentence?

You can use "was faulty" to describe something that has a defect or isn't working correctly. For example, "The equipment "was faulty", so we had to stop the experiment."

What's a good alternative to "was faulty"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "was defective", "was malfunctioning", or "was flawed".

Is it correct to say "was fault" instead of "was faulty"?

No, the correct phrase is ""was faulty"". "Was fault" is grammatically incorrect. You could say something like "the fault was..." instead.

What's the difference between "was faulty" and "was damaged"?

"Was faulty" implies an inherent defect or flaw, while "was damaged" suggests that something was harmed or broken by an external force or accident.