a failure to respond

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a failure to respond" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone did not reply or react to a request or communication. Example: "The committee expressed concern over a failure to respond to the urgent emails sent last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But tolerance is a failure to respond.

The New York Times - Magazine

The British government has been accused of a failure to respond speedily to the devastation.

The Guardian

Post-RP patients often show a failure to respond to phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors.

European Urology

Gene argues that only the school could have had records showing a failure to respond to complaints of abuse.

The New Yorker

Certain genetic mutations result in insufficient production of functional leptin or in a failure to respond to the leptin signal.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Launched by the FXB Center in August 2008, this landmark initiative explores the "cost of inaction" of a failure to respond appropriately to children.

Harvard University

The son was always more likely to follow the artistic rather than the army route because of a failure to respond to expensive educational discipline.

The Guardian

There was, in the early stages, "a failure to respond appropriately to disclosures of abuse by victims and to give them adequate and timely support", the report said.

The Guardian

The first phase of the Cost of Inaction project focused on developing and applying a methodology to consider the consequences and costs that arise from a failure to respond to the needs of children affected (or infected) by HIV/AIDS.

Harvard University

In half of these cases, there were missed opportunities to potentially save the baby, including a lack of investigation, misinterpretation of the baby's heart trace or a failure to respond appropriately to other factors.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is an area where there has been a total failure to respond, despite strong evidence regarding the dysfunctional nature of interventions, based on a legislative and institutional framework established in the colonial period.

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a failure to respond", consider the specific context. If you want to emphasize the inaction, use "inaction". If you want to emphasize the lack of a reply, use "lack of response".

Common error

Avoid using "a failure to respond" in overly passive constructions that obscure accountability. Instead, restructure the sentence to clearly identify who failed to respond and the consequences of that inaction.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "a failure to respond" is as a noun phrase. It acts as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting an instance of non-reaction or non-reply. This is supported by Ludwig AI's observation that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a failure to respond" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe situations where a reaction or answer is absent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely applicable across various contexts, from news and media to scientific and academic writing. While alternatives like "lack of response" and "inaction" exist, the choice depends on the specific emphasis intended. Be mindful of avoiding passive constructions and clearly identifying the responsible party when using the phrase. Considering its prevalent usage and clear meaning, "a failure to respond" remains a valuable tool in effectively communicating instances of non-reaction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failure to react

Similar in structure, but focuses on the general act of reacting rather than a specific response.

lack of response

Focuses on the absence of a reaction or answer.

unresponsiveness

Describes the state of being unresponsive.

non-response

Highlights the act of not responding.

inaction

Emphasizes the lack of action taken.

omission to react

Stresses the neglected duty to react.

neglect to reply

Focuses on the act of not providing a reply.

oversight in responding

Highlights the accidental nature of not responding.

default of reaction

Indicates a deficiency in the expected reaction.

passivity

Emphasizes the passive role taken instead of responding.

FAQs

What does "a failure to respond" mean?

The phrase "a failure to respond" indicates a lack of reaction or answer to a situation, request, or communication. It signifies that someone or something did not provide the expected or necessary response.

How can I use "a failure to respond" in a sentence?

You can use "a failure to respond" to describe instances where a reaction was expected but did not occur. For example: "The investigation revealed "a failure to respond" to the patient's deteriorating condition".

What are some alternatives to "a failure to respond"?

You can use alternatives like "lack of response", "non-response", or "inaction" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "failure to respond" or "lack of response"?

Both phrases are correct, but ""lack of response"" is often used when describing a general absence of reaction, while ""a failure to respond"" can imply a more specific or critical instance of not reacting when required.