Which should you use, break down or breakdown. A breakdown is a situation in which a machine stops working. When a machine breaks down, it stops working. When a substance breaks down, it separates into the parts that it is made of.
| Incorrect: |
Her car had a break
down. |
| Correct: |
Her car had a breakdown. |
| Incorrect: |
Digestive enzymes help to
breakdown the food we eat. |
| Correct: |
Digestive enzymes help to break
down the food we eat. |
