I was failed

USAGE SUMMARY

'I was failed' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that you have been unsuccessful in achieving a certain result. For example, "I was failed the driving test despite studying hard for it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Huffington Post

Vice

The Guardian

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

I was failed.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

However, she said: "I was failed by every single person I went to for help.

Independent

And it was a tad disappointing that I was failed in 2013 because I had failed in 2012.

The Guardian - Opinion

After this professor refused to believe me, we came to a "compromise" in which I was failed only for that paper.

The New York Times

What was weird for me was that the first time I was failed for being too aggressive and the second for being too timid.

The Guardian

I was failed progeny.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The former denotes that n i is part of the overlay without suffering from a failure, and the latter denotes that n i is failed.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

"And now I cannot help out, so I feel like I'm — fail," he says.

The New York Times

I'm Trying to Be a Bisexual, But I'm Failing Miserably.

Vice

Read: "Lotic: 'If I Don't Say I'm Gay, I'm Black,' I'm Failing a Responsibility to Piss People Off".

Vice

I also think that it's failed to provoke action.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was failed" to express a sense of having been let down by a system, person, or process, rather than simply stating personal failure. This highlights external responsibility.

Common error

Avoid using "I was failed" when you actually mean "I failed". "I was failed" suggests an external force caused your failure, while "I failed" indicates personal responsibility or inability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was failed" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject (I) was the recipient of an action that resulted in failure. According to Ludwig, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Huffington Post

10%

Less common in

Vice

5%

The Guardian

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was failed" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to express that an external entity caused one's failure. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While the phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts, it also appears in academic and general writing. It's important to use this phrase when the failure is genuinely attributable to external factors rather than personal shortcomings. Be aware of the passive nature of the phrase, and use it to focus on the system or entity responsible for the failure, rather than oneself.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was let down

Focuses on the feeling of disappointment caused by someone or something not meeting expectations.

I was unsuccessful due to external factors

Highlights the role of external forces in hindering success.

I was found wanting

Implies a deficiency or inadequacy was identified, leading to failure.

I was found lacking

Focuses on the absence of necessary qualities or resources.

I did not receive the necessary support

Emphasizes the absence of assistance or resources needed for success.

I was unsupported

Highlights the lack of backing or assistance from others.

I didn't get the help I needed

Expresses the lack of required assistance in a more direct manner.

I was underserved

Focuses on being inadequately provided with services or resources.

I was shortchanged

Implies being unfairly treated or given less than what was deserved.

I was dealt a bad hand

Suggests facing unfavorable circumstances or conditions beyond one's control.

FAQs

How can I use "I was failed" in a sentence?

You can use "I was failed" to indicate that someone or something caused you to fail. For example, "I was failed by the education system" or "I was failed by my mentor".

What's a more formal way to say "I was failed"?

A more formal alternative could be "I was found wanting", which implies a deficiency was identified. Alternatively, you can use "I was let down" if someone disappointed you.

Is "I was failed" the same as "I failed"?

No, "I was failed" implies an external entity or system caused your failure, while "I failed" indicates personal responsibility. The former suggests being let down, while the latter suggests a personal inability or error.

What can I say instead of "I was failed" to emphasize lack of support?

To emphasize a lack of support, you could say "I did not receive the necessary support" or "I was unsupported", which highlight the absence of assistance needed to succeed.