Which preposition goes with 'brittle' -- under, to, or of? Pair "brittle" with "under" for pressure, load, or stress. Use "when" for events such as demand spikes. You can also use "because it depends on..." to name a dependency. Avoid "to," "of," and "for" in these patterns.
Quick check
Pressure needs the right preposition
You know "Brittle" well.
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Learn "Brittle" in depth →The pattern: name what's pressing on the thing
Name the condition or event that may cause failure. Use "under" for a continuing state and "when" for an event. Ask "brittle under what?" or "brittle when what happens?" Do not use the pattern "brittle to what?"
"The automation is brittle under pressure" is correct; "brittle to pressure" and "brittle of pressure" are not.
"The pipeline is brittle when demand spikes" is correct; "brittle of demand spikes" and "brittle to demand spikes" are not.
For a fuller explanation, use "brittle because it depends on [dependency]." This construction identifies the underlying mechanism, not just the trigger condition.
Try it yourself
Fix Corvus's demand-spike sentence
The common mistake: borrowing a preposition from a nearby word
An incorrect preposition can distract readers from the actual operational risk. For example, "the process is brittle to change" sounds unnatural. This mistake is understandable. Similar adjectives such as "vulnerable to" and "sensitive to" do use "to."
"Brittle" does not follow that grammatical pattern. Replace "brittle to" with "under" for a state. For an event, use "when" instead. The complete sentence will sound more natural.
Practice scenarios
Practice using brittle in these situations.
- choosing between "under," "when," and "because it depends on" for a brittle claim
- catching "brittle to" before it goes into a written report
- describing a specific stressor using the correct preposition pattern
Useful phrases to try.
- "[X] is brittle under [pressure/load/stress]."
- "[X] is brittle when [event] happens."
- "[X] is brittle because it depends on [dependency]."
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Understanding it is one thing. Practice its nuances, see how it works in real workplace situations, and use it yourself with feedback.
Start the "Brittle" learning path →A preposition is small, but careful readers may notice an incorrect choice.
Choose "under," "when," or "because it depends on" for these common patterns. Avoid "to," "of," and "for."