Failing to recall

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Failing to recall" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation where someone is unable to remember or bring to mind specific information or details. Example: "Failing to recall the details of the meeting, she struggled to provide an accurate report."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

I have failed to recall my memories of her".

The Guardian

Sweetest Song cannot fail to recall Sade's Sweetest Taboo.

The Guardian - Music

But Mr. Lomma failed to recall the crane at East 91st Street, Mr. Cherkasky said.

The New York Times

That I fail to recall anything else he said sometimes seems like a moral failure.

The New Yorker

Maybe six or seven times I'd try but fail to recall it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

TELLS OF 1929 PROTEST Official of Defunct Bank Fails to Recall Meetings at Which Lendings Were Approved.

The New York Times

Up come the endearing titles and the supertidy look of digital animation that never fails to recall "Toy Story".

The New York Times

Mr. Slater said he "cannot speak to why Mr. Hampton and Ms. Mata fail to recall their involvement on the Project Vote board".

The New York Times

One fails to recall similar phrases used in the case of hundreds of British Jews who regularly go to serve in the Israeli reserve army.

The Guardian

This time Mr. Bush knew more than Mr. Musharraf's name, which he had failed to recall in an embarrassing television interview two years ago.

The New York Times

Greene came in with a friend, began quoting a poem by Robert Browning, "The Lost Mistress," and failed to recall the last line, which Ms. Hazzard helpfully supplied.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "failing to recall" when you want to emphasize not just the absence of a memory, but also the attempt and subsequent lack of success in retrieving it.

Common error

While both 'recall' and 'recollect' mean to remember, "recall" often implies a more immediate or direct retrieval of information, whereas 'recollect' suggests a more effortful bringing back to mind. Be sure to use the word that accurately conveys the effort of remembering, or lack thereof, in your context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Failing to recall" functions as a participial phrase, often acting as an adjective modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes a state or condition resulting from an unsuccessful attempt to remember something. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Failing to recall" is a grammatically sound phrase that denotes the unsuccessful attempt to remember something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While "failing to recall" isn't particularly common, it effectively communicates the effort involved in trying to remember. When writing, remember to consider the level of formality and choose "recall" over "recollect" when appropriate. Consider using alternatives like "unable to remember" or "cannot recollect" depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Cannot remember

A straightforward expression of the inability to remember.

Unable to remember

Focuses on the inability to bring something to mind, differing slightly in emphasis from the act of trying and failing.

Not remembering

A simple and direct way of stating that something is not being remembered.

Cannot recollect

A more formal way of saying unable to remember, implies a conscious effort to bring something back to mind.

Unable to bring to mind

Highlights the mental effort required to retrieve information, similar to "failing to recall".

Forgetting to remember

Highlights a missed action due to forgetting, implying a prior intention.

Unable to retrieve from memory

Highlights the cognitive process of retrieving information from memory.

Lost the memory of

Suggests that the memory is no longer accessible.

Having difficulty remembering

Implies a struggle or challenge in the act of remembering.

Struggling to recall

Emphasizes the difficulty and effort involved in trying to remember something.

FAQs

How can I use "Failing to recall" in a sentence?

You can use "Failing to recall" to describe someone's inability to remember something, such as, "Failing to recall the details, she could not provide an accurate account of the event".

What's a more formal alternative to "Failing to recall"?

A more formal alternative could be "unable to recollect", which implies a deliberate effort to bring something back to mind.

What is the difference between "Failing to recall" and "Forgetting"?

"Failing to recall" suggests an attempt to remember, whereas "forgetting" simply means the information is not accessible, with no implication of effort. You might say, "Forgetting the appointment, he missed the meeting".

Is it ever incorrect to use "Failing to recall"?

It would be unusual to use "Failing to recall" when referring to something you never knew in the first place. It's more appropriate when there's an expectation of prior knowledge. For example, it's better to say "I don't know the answer" rather than "I'm failing to recall the answer" if you never learned it.