but fails both

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but fails both" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that does not succeed in achieving two specific goals or objectives. Example: "The new policy was intended to improve efficiency and reduce costs, but fails both in practice."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As for the third ("X is good" means "X is what I desire to desire"), it meets (2.1), struggles to meet (2.2), meets (2.3) and (2.4) but fails both (2.5) and (2.6).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Meyers, Mr. D'Agnillo's neighbors, have challenged their property assessment twice, but failed both times.

The New York Times

Travelocity said that it sought a refund from the Hotel Reservations Network, but failed both to make sure it had issued the refund and to communicate with Arthur about the status of his refund.

The New York Times - Travel

The article concludes that the changes to the tax system introduced additional incentives for field developments but failed both to improve tax system design per se and to maximize government tax revenue.

Energy Policy

Galerius made two attempts to unseat Maxentius, but failed both times.

Wikipedia

Ideas for the additional construction of Ringeriksbanen were pressed by commercial interests in Ringerike in both 1890 and 1906, but failed both times.

Wikipedia

I'd been ordered by the courts to attend Think First classes twice before, which is a 43-step programme dealing with anger and responsibility, but failed both times because I missed classes or got in some kind of trouble.

Vice

Humphrey, a police detective, tries his best to pin both murders on Doan and kick his dog, but fails at both.

Forbes

It attempts to be both a legitimate psychological drama and a titillation-fest – much like its 1980s and 90s forebears – but fails in both camps.

The Guardian - Film

Mr. Dannelly resists easy, smug caricature, but the picture ultimately fails both as comedy and as sentimental melodrama, veering from not-very-funny jokes to canned speeches about tolerance and human fallibility.

The New York Times

But I think this episode fails both the so-what test and the definition of irony.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "but fails both", ensure the two elements being failed are clearly defined and understood by the reader. This prevents ambiguity and strengthens the statement's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "but fails both" when more than two aspects are involved. This phrase is specifically for two elements; otherwise, use a more general term like "fails in multiple aspects".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but fails both" functions as a conjunction linking a previous statement with a contrasting outcome of failure in two specified aspects. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but fails both" is a grammatically sound construction used to indicate a lack of success in two distinct areas or attempts. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's important to use it judiciously and ensure the two aspects being discussed are clearly defined. Although not extremely common, the phrase appears in various contexts such as news, science and encyclopedias, indicating a degree of versatility. For alternative expressions, phrases like "but achieves neither" or "but is unsuccessful in both" can be used to convey a similar meaning, depending on the specific nuance desired. The best practice involves using the phrase precisely to avoid ambiguity and maximize its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but achieves neither

Replaces "fails both" with "achieves neither", focusing on the lack of accomplishment.

but is unsuccessful in both

Emphasizes the lack of success using the adjective "unsuccessful".

but falls short on both counts

Uses "falls short" to convey failure, adding a more figurative expression.

but misses both targets

Employs the metaphor of missing targets to illustrate failure in achieving two goals.

but does not succeed in either

Highlights the absence of success in either of the two attempts or aspects.

but is deficient in both

Indicates a lack of necessary quality or element in both aspects.

but is lacking in both areas

Focuses on the areas where the failure occurs, using the term "lacking".

but doesn't deliver on either front

Uses the idiom "doesn't deliver" to express failure, adding a business-oriented tone.

but is ineffective in both cases

Highlights the lack of effectiveness in achieving the desired outcome in both scenarios.

but proves inadequate in both respects

Indicates that something is not good enough in either of the two aspects.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "but fails both"?

You can use alternatives such as "but achieves neither", "but is unsuccessful in both", or "but falls short on both counts" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "but fails both"?

Yes, "but fails both" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate a lack of success in two specific areas or attempts. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is acceptable and suitable for use.

What does "but fails both" mean?

The phrase "but fails both" signifies that something or someone has not succeeded in achieving two distinct objectives or has been unsuccessful in two separate attempts. For instance, "The strategy aimed to increase sales and reduce costs, but fails both" means the strategy did not achieve either goal.

In what contexts can I use "but fails both"?

You can use "but fails both" in various contexts, including academic writing, news reporting, and general conversation, whenever you want to convey that something has been unsuccessful in two specific aspects. The key is to ensure that the two aspects are clear and relevant to the discussion.