The USA ran out of the electricity because of a storm.

[tufguy]

The USA ran out of the electricity because of a storm.

They don't have the electricity because of the storm.

They are facing the power cut because of the storm.

Please check.

 

[emsr2d2]

In addition, think about logic. Do you believe there has ever been a storm which has caused the whole of the USA to suffer a power cut?

 

[tufguy]

They don't have electricity because of the storm.

I think there is a word for that "black out". Can I say "they are facing black out because the destruction that storm has caused in their area?" Or "The whole area has been blacked out because of the storm?"

 

[GoesStation]

They don't have electricity because of the storm.

I think there is a word for that "black out". Can I say "they are facing black out because the destruction that storm has caused in their area?" Or "The whole area has been blacked out because of the storm?"

The second one is natural and correct. My region of Ohio was blacked out for as long as two weeks because of a wind storm related to Hurricane Ike.

 

[SoothingDave]

A "power cut" to me is a deliberate action. A "power outage" is what happens after a storm.

 

[emsr2d2]

That's definitely an AmE vs BrE difference. We don't use "power outage" at all. Whenever the electricity is off unexpectedly, it's a power cut. If we do it on purpose, we say that someone has (or we have) turned off the electricity.

 

[GoesStation]

That's definitely an AmE vs BrE difference. We don't use "power outage" at all. Whenever the electricity is off unexpectedly, it's a power cut. If we do it on purpose, we say that someone has (or we have) turned off the electricity.

The number I call to report one of the frequent* blackouts at my house is 1-877-4OUTAGE.

*That's "frequent" in developed-country terms. I imagine many people around the world would envy the relatively reliable electricity Dayton Power & Light provides me with.

 

[probus]

The USA ran out of the electricity because of a storm.

They don't have the electricity because of the storm.

They are facing the power cut because of the storm.

Please check.

Just eliminate the definite article from all three. Then the first two are correct and natural. All you have to do to make the third correct and natural is to substitute "a" for the deleted "the".

This is about English usage, not about the experience of various members with their suppliers of electricity.

 

[GoesStation]

The USA ran out of the electricity because of a storm.

They don't have the electricity because of the storm.

They are facing the power cut because of the storm.

Please check.

Just eliminate the definite article from all three. Then the first two are correct and natural. All you have to do to make the third correct and natural is to substitute "a" for the deleted "the".

The first cannot be natural. You run out of something when you consume your entire stock of it. You can run out of gas, run out of fresh figs, or run out of metaphors, but the United States can't "run out of electricity", and a storm can't disrupt the electricity supply of a continent-spanning country.

 

[tufguy]

They don't have electricity because of the storm.

They are facing the power cut because of a storm.

This area blacks out after the storm.

This area faces power outage after the storm (AME).

This area faces power cut after the storm (BRE).

 

[GoesStation]

They don't have electricity because of the storm.:tick:

They are facing the power cut because of a storm.:cross: They could face a power cut, though the wording isn't very natural.

This area blacks out after the storm.:cross: It is blacked out.

This area faces power outage after the storm (AME).:cross: This area faces a power outage.

This area faces power cut after the storm (BRE).

:cross: This area faces a power cut.

Note my corrections above.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Just eliminate the definite article from all three. Then the first two are correct and natural. All you have to do to make the third correct and natural is to substitute "a" for the deleted "the".

This is about English usage, not about the experience of various members with their suppliers of electricity.

Exactly right, but the first one still makes no sense. North America is 3,000 miles wide. Storms aren't.

 

[probus]

I already told you: the "the" is wrong. Leave it out. Power cuts. Not the power cuts.

 

[tufguy]

:cross: This area faces a power cut.

Note my corrections above.

They are facing a power cut because of a storm.

This area blacked out after the storm.

This area faces a power outage after the storm (AME).

This area faces power cut after the storm (BRE).

 

[emsr2d2]

I can't speak for AmE, but we don't say "to face a power cut" in BrE when one is actually happening. We might use it if, for example, the electricity company threatened to go on strike at a later date.

There has been a huge storm and there are power cuts all over the south east.
There is a power cut in Bristol.

Trent Energy has announced a huge strike in January 2017, leaving people in Scotland facing power cuts throughout the month.

 

[tufguy]

I can't speak for AmE, we don't say "to face a power cut" in BrE when one is actually happening. We might use it if, for example, the electricity company threatened to go on strike at a later date.

There has been a huge storm and there are power cuts all over the south east.
There is a power cut in Bristol.

Trent Energy has announced a huge strike in January 2017, leaving people in Scotland facing power cuts throughout the month.

If it is not happening then is it possible to say it?

 

[emsr2d2]

If it is not happening then is it possible to say it?

Your question is unclear. If what is not happening? Is it possible to say what​?

 

[tufguy]

Your question is unclear. If what is not happening? Is it possible to say what​?

"I can't speak for AmE, we don't say "to face a power cut" in BrE when one is actually happening." You wrote this.

So I asked you "If it is not happening then is it possible to say it?"

 

[GoesStation]

"I can't speak for AmE, we don't say "to face a power cut" in BrE when one is actually happening." You wrote this.

So I asked you "If it is not happening then is it possible to say it?"

To face something means to be threatened with it, that there's a strong possibility it will happen. It doesn't mean that the thing is actually happening.

 

[emsr2d2]

Some things can be faced while they are actually happening, but a power cut isn't one of them.

He is facing great adversity at the moment. :tick: (The adversity is an ongoing situation.)
I'm currently facing some huge obstacles in my search for a new job. :tick: (The obstacles are currently in my way.)
We're facing a power cut. :tick: This only works if the power cut is in the [near] future.