Malfunction vs Those combines you rebuilt went haywire

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Malfunction

Those combines you rebuilt went haywire

Top 5,000 (fairly common)
 MalfunctionThose combines you rebuilt went haywire
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ˈheɪwaɪə//🇺🇸 //ˈheɪˌwaɪər//
MeaningSomething that stops working correctly or goes out of control.
Example-The computer system went haywire during the presentation.
Register-Neutral
How common-Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Collocations-go haywire, went haywire, haywire behavior
Common mistakes-Confusing 'haywire' with 'haphazard' - they have different meanings., Using 'went haywire' without a subject can sound incomplete., Mixing up with 'hay' as in the agricultural product.
Usage notes-Used to describe machinery, systems, or plans that are malfunctioning or behaving unpredictably. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but may not be suitable for very formal settings.

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Malfunction
Those combines you rebuilt went haywire

Frequently asked questions: Malfunction vs Those combines you rebuilt went haywire

What's the difference between Malfunction and Those combines you rebuilt went haywire?

Malfunction: Those combines you rebuilt went haywire: Something that stops working correctly or goes out of control.

Can I use Malfunction and Those combines you rebuilt went haywire interchangeably?

Not always. Malfunction and Those combines you rebuilt went haywire are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.