do not measure up to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "do not measure up to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express that something does not meet a certain standard or expectation. Example: "Her performance in the competition did not measure up to the high standards set by her previous achievements."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

The ergonomics of the interior do not measure up to the car's mechanical sophistication.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, the federal government has provided incentives to close schools that do not measure up to national performance standards.

The New York Times

T.V.A. is rigorously inspecting Bellefonte and will replace any components that do not measure up to modern standards.

The New York Times

Frequently, her routines do not measure up to the artistic or technical level of which she is capable.

The New York Times - Sports

Apple has said that if the companies manufacturing its products do not measure up to its labor and human rights standards, it will stop working with them.

The New York Times

Four GCSEs do not measure up to the five A* to C they expect the majority of pupils to be achieving at present".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

That is, initially, they don't measure up to what they replaced.

The New York Times - Tech

It doesn't matter that croissants have taken over the cafe and bakery scene in New York; they just don't measure up to fresh, flaky Paris croissants.

The New York Times - Travel

However, the irony of Bill Gates's complaining that American students don't measure up to the rest of the world is too rich to pass up.

The New York Times

The existing nine holes can not be salvaged because they don't measure up to the definition of a high-end course, Mrs. Tortorella said.

The New York Times

It's an engagingly low-key, freewheeling film in ways that don't measure up to conventional screenplay-seminar verities, with hints of Cassavetes or Bob Rafelson.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone and formality of your writing when choosing between "do not measure up to" and its alternatives. "Fall short of" might be more appropriate for concise, direct communication, while "not live up to" suits more personal contexts.

Common error

While "do not measure up to" is generally acceptable, overuse in formal writing can make your text sound less professional. Opt for more concise alternatives like "fail to meet" or "fall short of" in business reports or academic papers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "do not measure up to" functions as a verb phrase used to express a failure to meet a certain standard or expectation. Ludwig's examples show its usage in various contexts, highlighting its role in comparing something against a benchmark.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "do not measure up to" is a common verb phrase used to express that something fails to meet a particular standard or expectation. Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically correct and acceptable in written English. Predominantly found in news and media, this expression serves to critique or evaluate, highlighting deficiencies against established ideals. While versatile, consider context-appropriate alternatives like "fall short of" in formal settings or "not live up to" for more personal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fall short of

This alternative is more concise and direct, focusing on the failure to reach a specific target or standard.

fail to meet

A more formal alternative, emphasizing the lack of compliance with a requirement or expectation.

not live up to

This suggests a failure to fulfill a promise or expectation, often in a more personal or aspirational context.

be inferior to

Directly states that something is of lower quality or standard compared to something else.

not be comparable to

Highlights the lack of similarity in quality or achievement between two things.

pale in comparison to

This implies that something is significantly less impressive when compared to something else.

not reach the standard of

A formal way of expressing that something does not meet a required level of quality or performance.

be no match for

Indicates a significant difference in ability or quality, suggesting that one thing is clearly superior.

be second-rate compared to

Directly labels something as being of lower quality when compared to a standard.

not be in the same league as

This idiom suggests a substantial difference in skill or quality, often used in competitive contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "do not measure up to" in a sentence?

You can use "do not measure up to" to indicate that something fails to meet a certain standard or expectation. For example, "The sequel "did not measure up to" the original movie".

What can I say instead of "do not measure up to"?

You can use alternatives like "fall short of", "fail to meet", or "not live up to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "do not measure up to" or "does not measure up to"?

"Do not measure up to" is used with plural subjects, while "does not measure up to" is used with singular subjects. For example, "These results do not measure up to expectations", but "This result does not measure up to expectations".

What's the difference between "do not measure up to" and "fall short of"?

"Do not measure up to" and "fall short of" are often interchangeable, but "do not measure up to" implies a comparison against a specific standard, while "fall short of" simply indicates a failure to reach a desired outcome.