I failed to remember

USAGE SUMMARY

"I failed to remember" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to describe a situation in which you did not remember to do something, for example: "I failed to remember to set an alarm, so I ended up being late for work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

I noticed this while I was in a Lyft in Washington, D.C., but I failed to remember it until TC's sister publication, Engadget, reported it the other day.

TechCrunch

I noticed this while I was in a Lyft in Washington, D.C., but I failed to remember it until TC's sister publication, Engadget, reported it the other day.

TechCrunch

When I signed myself up to do this, I failed to remember the fact that school starts promptly at 8 01 AM, meaning I would have to wake up before 8 AM something I have not done in a very long time.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's just too bad it failed to remember that the fix for bad journalism generally includes more journalism.

The New York Times

What I fail to remember, she counters with a sparkle, is how modern the Victorians were.

Independent

What I fail to remember is that when I start small and work my way up step by step, I grow, I learn and eventually I become equipped to handle these responsibilities that intimidate me now.

HuffPost

I'd failed to remember that heading back to Windows meant that I'd be working in an OS that is targeted much more frequently by viruses and malware programs.

Forbes

I'd forgotten the boy who's "plugged" under the waterfall but rereading this part whisked me back to childhood horrors of such a punishment, and how can I have failed to remember Maria, surely the best female character in children's books?

The Guardian - Books

It lasted a few seconds but in the 40 years since it happened, I have never failed to remember its occurrence whenever I descend into the great hall.

The New York Times

"Please give my regards to Aunt Nesibe and your father," I said, having failed to remember his name in time.

The New Yorker

I have never failed to remember those patients whose thanks made me feel like a real doctor.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I failed to remember", ensure the context clearly indicates what you forgot and why it's relevant to the situation. This provides clarity and helps the reader understand the significance of your memory lapse.

Common error

Avoid vague statements like "I failed to remember." Instead, specify what you failed to remember to provide context and clarity for the reader. For example, say "I failed to remember the appointment time" instead of simply "I failed to remember."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I failed to remember" functions as a statement expressing a lack of recall. It combines a subject ("I"), an auxiliary verb ("failed"), and an infinitive phrase ("to remember"), indicating a past inability to recall something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I failed to remember" is a grammatically correct way to express a memory lapse or a failure to recall something. Ludwig AI validates its usability. It's most frequently found in news and media, science, and formal business contexts, indicating a neutral register. While not exceedingly common, it serves the purpose of explaining why something was not remembered or done. To improve clarity, it's best to specify what exactly was forgotten. Alternatives include "I forgot" or "I didn't remember" for simpler expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I forgot to recall

Replaces 'failed to remember' with a simpler, more direct synonym for forgetting.

I didn't remember

Uses a contraction and a simpler verb form, making it slightly more informal.

It slipped my mind

Emphasizes that the lack of remembering was unintentional or accidental.

I had a memory lapse

Highlights a temporary inability to recall something.

I couldn't bring to mind

Emphasizes the effort to remember and the inability to do so.

I drew a blank

More informal and emphasizes a complete inability to recall.

I overlooked to remember

Focuses on the action of overlooking something, leading to forgetting.

I neglected to recall

Highlights a failure in paying attention, leading to the lapse in memory.

I omitted to remember

Emphasizes the act of leaving something out, resulting in forgetting.

I lost all recollection of

More formal and indicates a complete absence of memory.

FAQs

What does "I failed to remember" mean?

The phrase "I failed to remember" means that you did not recall something, or you forgot something that you should have remembered.

How can I use "I failed to remember" in a sentence?

You can use "I failed to remember" to explain why you didn't do something or why you made a mistake, such as, "I failed to remember to set an alarm, and that's why I was late."

What are some alternatives to "I failed to remember"?

Some alternatives include phrases like "I forgot", "I didn't remember", or "it slipped my mind", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "I failed to remember" or "I didn't remember"?

"I didn't remember" is generally more common and slightly more informal. "I failed to remember" can add a bit more emphasis to the failure aspect, but both are correct and understandable.