Breakdown-Break-Down | Commonly Confused Words

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Breakdown

/ˈbreɪkdaʊn/

The failure of a system, machine, or relationship

Examples:

That's for nervous breakdowns, isn't it?""Owing to a breakdown, the train is unavoidably delayed.""But Neely, you can't sit here and—have a breakdown."

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Break down

/breɪk daʊn /

The phrasal verb 'break down' is quite versatile and commonly used in both informal and semi-formal settings, although it is less frequent in highly formal contexts where more precise terms might be preferred. It has several meanings, with the most prevalent being the mechanical failure or malfunction of a vehicle or machine (e.g., 'The car broke down on the highway'). This usage is highly common and recognizable. 'Break down' can also mean to analyze something in detail ('Let's break down the problem') or to experience an emotional or psychological collapse ('She broke down in tears'). In educational or analytical contexts, 'break down' can refer to decomposing complex ideas into simpler components for better understanding, which may appear in both spoken and written forms. Additionally, in computing, 'break down' can describe the failure of a system or software. Its flexibility and the situational dependency of its meanings make 'break down' a highly useful phrasal verb in various everyday scenarios.

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Ways to tell them apart:

Breakdown is a noun, while break down is a verb phrase.
Use breakdown to refer to an event or situation, whereas break down describes the action.
Remember that breakdown is a single word used to convey a concept, while break down involves separating the two words to indicate an action is taking place.
If you can replace it with malfunction or collapse, use breakdown.
Conversely, if youre describing the process of failing or decomposing, use break down.'

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Breakdown vs. Break down

Breakdown

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Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Break down

Examples:

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

When to use breakdown:

When to use break down:

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