I failed to find

USAGE SUMMARY

"I failed to find" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you have been unable to locate something that you were searching for. For example, "I failed to find the source of the noise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Even on a figurative level, I failed to find poetry in that.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For a long time I failed to find my mother and was very unhappy.

The Guardian

"I have searched through the record for your soul, but I failed to find it".

The New Yorker

So it was that on arriving at the village just after dark I failed to find my bearings at all.

The New Yorker

What if, after racking up thousands of pounds of debt, I failed to find a decent job?

Independent

This was what I failed to find, to my frustration, in Carson's translations: a feeling of a composite whole.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

As I walk around the city later I fail to find a single person who appreciates the tagging as art, even though most are happy to see the many colourful murals, paintings and stencils.

The Guardian

It's a pity I fail to find any sunloungers, and it's a pity that the downstairs shower is over the bath (a walk-in wetroom would have been easier for elderly grandparents to negotiate).

The Guardian - Travel

I fail to find the world intelligible.

SEP

Further, farm tools have opposite sign in rural and urban areas but I fail to find any significant effect.

Journal of Economic Structures

For example, to quote a German student "I fail to find approaches to problem-solving, have only rarely ideas to develop new approaches".

Asia-Pacific Science Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider context when using "I failed to find". While correct, alternatives like "I couldn't find" may be more suitable for informal communication.

Common error

While "I failed to find" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Use simpler alternatives like "I couldn't find" to avoid sounding stiff.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I failed to find" functions as a declarative statement expressing the speaker's inability to locate something. It typically introduces information about an unsuccessful search or attempt to discover something. Ludwig confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Reference

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I failed to find" is a grammatically correct and relatively common phrase used to express the inability to locate something after a search. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is accurate and appropriate for conveying unsuccessful attempts at discovery. While generally neutral, it can lean towards formality in very casual contexts, where simpler alternatives like "I couldn't find" are often preferred. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media and science contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was unable to locate

Replaces "failed" with "was unable", emphasizing inability.

I couldn't find

A more informal contraction replacing "failed to".

I did not succeed in finding

More formal and verbose alternative.

I have been unsuccessful in locating

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the unsuccessful search.

I searched for but could not find

Highlights the searching action before the failure.

My attempts to find were unsuccessful

Shifts focus to the attempts rather than the "I".

I looked for it in vain

Adds a sense of futility to the search.

I drew a blank in my search for

More idiomatic, suggesting no results were found.

I came up empty-handed

Implies a lack of success after an effort to find something.

I missed spotting

Highlights oversight.

FAQs

What does "I failed to find" mean?

It means that you were unable to locate something after making an effort to do so. It expresses an unsuccessful search or discovery.

What can I say instead of "I failed to find"?

You can use alternatives like "I couldn't find", "I was unable to locate", or "I did not succeed in finding" depending on the context.

Is "I failed to find" formal or informal?

It is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. In very casual settings, "I couldn't find" might be more appropriate.

How to use "I failed to find" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an unsuccessful search, such as "After searching for hours, I failed to find my keys." or "I failed to find any evidence to support his claim."