communication failed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "communication failed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where there is a breakdown or inability to convey information effectively, often in technical or operational settings. Example: "The system displayed an error message indicating that communication failed between the server and the client."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

But the lines of communication failed because Karsay never mentioned this to Johnson, the first baseman.

The New York Times - Sports

Against the Jets two weeks ago that communication failed, and Walker ended up covering Santana Moss on several plays.

The New York Times - Sports

Short attention span version: Line was developed in Japan after phone communication failed due to the 2011 tsunami.

The Guardian - Tech

India's Supreme Court ruled in February that Ambani would face jail time if Reliance Communication failed to repay $77 million that it owes Swedish firm Ericsson.

Forbes

Communication failed.

Huffington Post

When communication failed, mistakes were made and sometimes it was very costly.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

When risk communication fails, people become vulnerable.

Harvard Business Review

Brief a back-up plan in case communication fails (known as "radio-out" procedures).

Harvard Business Review

Too often poor care is experienced in precisely those circumstances when plans and responsibilities are unclear, communication fails and older people fall between the cracks.

The Guardian

If this communication fails, then it's time to move on to a parent-teacher conference, and … 3. The best time to conduct a parent-teacher conference is at a formally scheduled parent-teacher conference.

The New York Times

(Yahoo says it offers phone support for its free e-mail service "in some cases," but it does not publish the phone number; it is revealed to the user in distress only after e-mail communication fails to resolve the problem).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing narratives or reports, consider adding context on the reason for failure or the impact of the failed communication to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the passive voice when describing why "communication failed". Instead of "Communication was failed", specify the cause, such as "A server error caused communication to fail".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "communication failed" primarily functions as a statement indicating a breakdown or interruption in the process of conveying information. As Ludwig AI explains, it's used to describe situations where there's an inability to effectively transmit or receive messages. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate this across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "communication failed" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in English, primarily functioning to report a breakdown in the exchange of information. As noted by Ludwig AI, it can be used in varied contexts, ranging from technical reports to discussions of interpersonal relationships. While alternatives exist, "communication failed" is appropriate across a range of formality levels, especially in news, scientific and business communications. Common errors include overusing the passive voice when describing the cause of the failure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

communication breakdown occurred

Replaces "failed" with a noun phrase emphasizing the occurrence of a breakdown.

communication lines went down

Uses a more informal, technical term to describe the failure of communication channels.

there was a communication lapse

Substitutes "failed" with "lapse", indicating a temporary or minor failure.

messaging broke down

Replaces the more formal "communication" with the term "messaging."

contact was lost

Focuses on the cessation of contact as a result of communication failure.

information transfer ceased

Replaces communication with "information transfer" and "failed" with "ceased", conveying a more technical tone.

signals were lost

Emphasizes the failure in transmitting signals as the cause of the communication breakdown.

the message didn't get through

Informal phrasing that emphasizes the outcome of the failed communication.

transmission was unsuccessful

Uses a more formal term "transmission" to refer to communication and "unsuccessful" to mean "failed".

no message received

Indicates that failure occurred because the intended recipient did not receive the message.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says "communication failed"?

When someone says "communication failed", it means that there was a breakdown or interruption in the exchange of information. This could be due to technical issues, human error, or other factors that prevented a successful transfer of data or understanding.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "communication failed"?

The phrase "communication failed" is appropriate in various contexts, particularly when discussing technical issues, reporting errors in systems, or analyzing incidents where a lack of communication had significant consequences. It's commonly used in areas like IT, project management, and interpersonal relationships to denote a breakdown in conveying or receiving messages.

What can I say instead of "communication failed" in a less formal context?

In less formal contexts, you can use alternatives like "message not sent", "contact was lost", or "messaging broke down" to convey the same idea with a more casual tone. The best choice depends on the specific situation and the audience.

Is "communication failed" the same as "failed communication"?

While similar, "communication failed" emphasizes the action or event of failing, while "failed communication" is often used as a noun to describe the result or instance of communication not succeeding. For example, "The system displayed an error message indicating that communication failed." versus "The project suffered due to failed communication between teams."