connection failed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "connection failed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the context of technology or networking to indicate that a connection attempt was unsuccessful. Example: "I tried to access the server, but the connection failed, and I couldn't retrieve the data."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Suddenly, the Internet connection failed and the session was terminated.

The New Yorker

Even if the Internet connection failed, the crew members could still share information with one another.

The New York Times - Science

Fifteen minutes after his cellphone connection failed, Mr. Lowe calls back.

The New York Times

The bird ended up transferring 700MB in an hour; the internet connection failed twice and the filmmakers had to give up.

The Guardian - Tech

"Did I just get lucky with the Covad line or is there a reason it kept working when the Comcast cable connection failed?" I asked him.

The New York Times

While tourism received an unexpected boost as a consequence of the Cypriot troubles of 1974, the Libyan connection failed to provide cheap oil, even though Mintoff had backed the Arabs in the 1973 Yom Kippur war and unemployment rose.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Tip: One phone cannot be connected in two ways; If the connection fails, click View Reasons to check the issue; When your mobile phone needs Bluetooth paired, the Bluetooth Match window will pop up, then enter the password in the Bluetooth Code textbox, and also enter the password in the mobile phone.

WikiHow

The camera records at full 1080p HD, and has 12 hours worth of internal storage — so it can also store clips locally if/when the Internet connection fails, syncing footage to the cloud once connectivity is restored.

TechCrunch

There's one station per city, and if the connection fails, you can listen to the default, BBC World Service.

The New York Times

Structural redundancy assuring bridge survival if a single member or connection fails is one means to achieve this task.

The New York Times

(Babbage is using a nifty, free app on his iPhone that replaces and enhances keypad entry).Should the cable-modem internet connection fail, so would the whole system.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing technical issues, be specific about the type of connection that failed (e.g., "Internet connection failed", "database connection failed") to provide more clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "connection failed" as a generic excuse for technical problems. Instead, investigate the root cause and provide a more detailed explanation to users or stakeholders.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "connection failed" functions as a statement indicating that an attempt to establish a link between two systems or devices was unsuccessful. This can be observed in Ludwig's examples where it describes internet connections failing, cellphone connections dropping, or other types of system failures. The statement informs the user about the status of the connection attempt.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "connection failed" is a grammatically correct and commonly understood way to indicate that an attempt to establish a communication link was unsuccessful. Ludwig AI's analysis shows that while technically simple, its usage spans a range of contexts from internet connectivity to structural engineering. While alternatives like "connection unsuccessful" or "unable to connect" exist, this phrase remains a straightforward and effective way to communicate a connection failure. Remember to provide specific details about the type of connection that failed for better clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

connection unsuccessful

Replaces 'failed' with 'unsuccessful', maintaining the same meaning but with a slightly more formal tone.

could not establish connection

A more verbose way of saying "connection failed", emphasizing the inability to connect.

connection lost

Indicates an existing connection was terminated unexpectedly, similar to a failed attempt.

unable to connect

Focuses on the inability to establish a connection, rather than its failure.

dropped connection

Indicates that the connection was active and then unexpectedly stopped working.

connection interrupted

Suggests a temporary disruption in the connection process, rather than a complete failure.

link broken

Emphasizes the broken link itself, rather than the act of failing to connect.

communication breakdown

Broadens the scope to general communication, not just a technical connection.

session terminated

Implies the end of a session due to a failure in connection.

the line went down

An idiomatic expression indicating that a communication line has stopped working.

FAQs

What does "connection failed" mean?

The phrase "connection failed" indicates that an attempt to establish a communication link between two points, such as a computer and a server, was unsuccessful.

What can I say instead of "connection failed"?

You can use alternatives like "connection unsuccessful", "unable to connect", or "connection lost" depending on the context.

How do I troubleshoot a "connection failed" error?

Troubleshooting steps include checking network cables, restarting devices, verifying network settings, and contacting your internet service provider. The specific steps depend on the type of connection that failed.

What causes a "connection failed" error?

Possible causes include network outages, incorrect settings, hardware issues, server problems, or firewall restrictions. Identifying the specific cause requires further investigation.