the failure rate vs the failure rates

Both 'the failure rate' and 'the failure rates' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'The failure rate' is singular and refers to a specific rate of failure, while 'the failure rates' is plural and refers to multiple rates of failure.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 641 views

the failure rate

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is singular and refers to a specific rate of failure. It is used when discussing a particular failure rate in a given context.

Examples:

The failure rate of the new product is higher than expected.
We need to analyze the failure rate to improve our processes.

Show examples from the web [+]

With this blended class late last year, the failure rate fell to nine percent.
In a capitalist economy there is always considerable risk, since the failure rate among businesses is high. 3 But in the case of a new product, there are extra expenses for making the public aware of it and its advantages, for example.
Neither should we forget that the failure rate and job losses in so-called large industry is much greater.
Based on our current knowledge, the failure rate is very low.
It's far higher than the failure rate of, say, Americans.
Do you know the failure rate for new restaurants?
Additionally, the use of filters in the pump significantly reduces the failure rate of the system.
By knowing where to look and then looking there, we were able to drive the failure rate for that defect back down to zero.
As an additional problem, there has been a rise in the failure rate of various stages of the testing process for new molecules.
Because of such complexities, it's impossible to put a precise number on the failure rate.
I think Bam was great at it the first time, and now Dunn's stepped in to up the failure rate to an all-time high.
A failure rate of 95% is a shocking statistic but is equivalent to the failure rate in offline ventures, so there is no differentiation between both.
reduce the failure rate of vaccine candidates in phase III clinical trials through new biomarkers for initial efficacy and safety checks;
The failure rate at application level shall not exceed one transmission error per 2000 messages.
The failure rate is less than 2 % within the first 3,000 hours of operation.
The failure rate in the first year is primarily due to "early" failures of electronic components and can only be further reduced at great expenditure.
My constituent tells me that the consensus outside Microsoft is that the failure rate is due to inappropriate or sub-standard materials being used in the manufacture of a significant number of these consoles.
If failures can be ascribed to other than plant health factors and if the failure rate exceeds the abovementioned percentages, these reasons shall be entered in the file .
Whereas the failure rate in exhaust-emission tests for vehicles which have not been regularly maintained may well be high;
The percentage of insolvencies of course rises in the most disadvantaged regions, where it can reach 10 %, while in the richer regions, the failure rate for micro and small businesses is of the order of 2.5 %.

Alternatives:

the rate of failure
the level of failure
the frequency of failure
the occurrence of failure
the incidence of failure

the failure rates

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is plural and refers to multiple rates of failure. It is used when discussing various rates of failure in different contexts.