but probably failed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but probably failed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express uncertainty about the success of an action or effort that was attempted. Example: "He tried to fix the car, but probably failed since it still won't start."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I used the opportunity to make clear where I stand on the subject, but probably failed to get across that I do not approve of the wholesale junking of a section of journalists.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Through its simplicity, the model allows us to make some basic predictions about state-dependent foraging behaviour, but probably fails to pick up the effects of larger group size [ 12, 75].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

But what headquarters probably failed to uncover was that the location is also virtually surrounded by adult communities.

Forbes

Power calculations showed that the probabilities of getting significant results at the 5% level with our sample sizes were satisfactory for a medium effect size (from 0.799 to 0.91) but would probably fail to detect a small effect (probabilities from 0.131 to 0.196).

BMC Public Health

The next morning, my head informed me that I had probably failed.

The Guardian - Travel

The Berggruen pictures sold for $71.2m and probably failed to cover the guarantee, said to be more than $80m.

The Economist

I told the cast on the first day of rehearsals that I have probably failed in my version.

The Guardian

"We probably failed to marshal support of the base as well as we should have," Rove said.

The New Yorker

But she said the study was limited because it relied on terms borrowed from human behavior that probably failed to reflect what the dog was actually doing.

The New York Times - Science

"If Facebook, for example, had servers that had crashed regularly they would have probably failed already".

BBC

Honestly I probably failed a class almost entirely because of that EP.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but probably failed" to introduce a sense of uncertainty or speculation about the outcome of an action or event. This implies that while an attempt was made, its success is doubtful.

Common error

Avoid using "but probably failed" when you have concrete evidence of failure. This phrase is best used when you suspect failure but lack definitive proof. If the failure is confirmed, use stronger language like "but definitely failed" or "but was unsuccessful".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but probably failed" functions as a conjunction phrase that introduces a clause expressing a likely, yet not certain, negative outcome. It connects a previous action with its potential lack of success, introducing an element of doubt. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

40%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but probably failed" is a grammatically sound conjunction phrase used to express uncertainty about the success of a previous action. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While not exceptionally common, it appears across diverse sources, including news media and scientific publications, with a neutral tone suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, consider whether the context warrants the degree of uncertainty it conveys, or if a more definitive statement is appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but likely unsuccessful

Replaces "probably failed" with a more direct assessment of the outcome.

but it likely didn't work

Uses a more informal tone and direct assessment of failure.

but presumably didn't succeed

Emphasizes the presumption of failure, adding a layer of assumption.

but it seems to have been in vain

Focuses on the effort being unproductive or without positive result.

but the attempt was likely futile

Highlights the pointlessness of the attempt, suggesting an expectation of failure.

however, it was most likely ineffective

Uses "however" for contrast and emphasizes ineffectiveness rather than complete failure.

though it probably didn't pan out

Employs a more colloquial expression, "didn't pan out", to describe the unsuccessful result.

yet, it appears to have missed the mark

Uses a more figurative expression, "missed the mark", to indicate a failure to achieve the intended goal.

although it appears to have been unsuccessful

Presents a formal alternative using "although" and "unsuccessful" for a similar meaning.

but it very likely fell short

Replaces "failed" with "fell short", suggesting that the effort did not meet expectations or requirements.

FAQs

What does "but probably failed" mean?

It means that an action was taken or an attempt was made, "but its success is uncertain". It suggests a likelihood of failure without absolute confirmation.

How can I use "but probably failed" in a sentence?

You can use it to express doubt about the positive outcome of an action. For example: "He tried to fix the car, "but probably failed", since it still won't start".

What are some alternatives to "but probably failed"?

You can use alternatives like "but likely unsuccessful", "but it seems to have been in vain", or "though it probably didn't pan out", depending on the context.

Is "but probably failed" formal or informal?

It is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for very formal writing, "although it appears to have been unsuccessful" might be a better option.