did not work well

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "did not work well" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or an effort that was unsuccessful or did not meet expectations. Example: "The new software implementation did not work well, leading to several issues for the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

This did not work well.

The New York Times

Luck's camera did not work well.

The New York Times - Sports

But that did not work well either.

The New York Times - Health

Again, this did not work well in practice.

The Economist

But the system did not work well and the project was abandoned.

The Economist

But the drugs that treated schizophrenia as a biological disorder did not work well.

The New York Times

Water did not work well, but the tea seemed to to neutralize the feeling.

The New York Times - Science

But MobileMe did not work well, and it is considered a rare failure for Apple.

The New York Times - Tech

An FCA report on the market found it did not work well for consumers.

The Economist

Unfortunately, other apps that I downloaded did not work well on the Galaxy Player 3.6.

The New York Times

But the problem is that it did not work well enough.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing technical issues, consider using more precise language to explain why something "did not work well". For example, specify if it was due to a software bug, hardware malfunction, or network connectivity issue.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on the phrase "did not work well" without providing context or specifics. Instead, elaborate on the consequences or impact of the failure. For instance, instead of saying "The marketing campaign did not work well", specify that "The marketing campaign did not work well, resulting in a 10% decrease in leads".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not work well" primarily functions as a predicate in a sentence, expressing that a subject failed to achieve the desired outcome or perform adequately. Ludwig AI confirms it is a common and usable phrase. It describes a lack of effectiveness or success.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

56%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "did not work well" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something was unsuccessful or ineffective. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It appears frequently in both News & Media and Scientific contexts. When using the phrase, it's beneficial to provide specific details about why something failed and the resulting consequences. Alternatives such as "was not effective" or "proved unsuccessful" can offer more direct or formal ways to convey the same meaning. While versatile, ensure that its use is supported by adequate context to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was not effective

Replaces "did not work well" with a more direct statement about ineffectiveness, suitable for many contexts.

proved unsuccessful

Indicates a lack of success, often after a specific attempt or effort.

failed to function properly

Specifically addresses a failure in functionality, often in technical or mechanical contexts.

did not perform adequately

Emphasizes a lack of adequate performance, often in professional settings.

was not up to par

Suggests that something didn't meet the expected standard or level of quality.

fell short of expectations

Highlights the disappointment associated with unmet expectations.

didn't pan out

An informal way of saying something didn't succeed or happen as planned.

bombed

A very informal term indicating a complete and utter failure.

was a flop

Similar to "bombed", this suggests a complete failure, often in a performance or event context.

turned out badly

Indicates a negative outcome or result, often implying unforeseen circumstances.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "did not work well"?

You can use alternatives like "was not effective", "proved unsuccessful", or "failed to function properly" depending on the context.

How can I use "did not work well" in a sentence?

The phrase "did not work well" is used to describe something that was not successful or effective. For example: "The new strategy did not work well, so we need to reassess our approach."

What's the difference between "did not work well" and "did not work successfully"?

"Did not work well" implies a general lack of effectiveness, while "did not work successfully" specifically emphasizes a failure to achieve a successful outcome. The former is broader and can apply to various situations where something didn't function as expected, while the latter focuses on the absence of a positive result.

Is it better to use "did not work well" or "was ineffective"?

Both "did not work well" and "was ineffective" are acceptable. "Was ineffective" is more direct and formal, while "did not work well" can be perceived as slightly more casual. The best choice depends on the context and the desired tone.