does not work as expected

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "does not work as expected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where something is not functioning in the way that was anticipated or intended. Example: "The software update was supposed to improve performance, but it does not work as expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Both could run into problems in a real situation, though: if the nudge does not work as expected, the asteroid may miss one city only to hit another.

The Guardian

That way, she said, people who use a phone infrequently or for emergencies only will not be surprised to find it does not work as expected.

The New York Times - Tech

Specific projects include determining why it sometimes does not work as expected and the process by which some chemotherapeutic drugs activate p53.

The New York Times - Science

"If a medicine does not work as expected, it's not necessarily because the dosage was too low," he said in May, warning that prolonged low interest rates and unconventional policies could have unpleasant results.

The New York Times

"If a game does not work as expected but the publisher is then able to remedy that, is there a claim?" says Jas Purewal, an interactive entertainment lawyer at Purewal & Partners.

The Guardian - Tech

This difference in the way pooling among time or frequency affects performance has no obvious justification, but we can consider intuitively why pooling as performed in image processing does not work as expected with acoustic spectrograms.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

In about 90% of those cases, Apple requests technical fixes usually for bugs in the software or because something doesn't work as expected, Schiller says.

TechCrunch

The price for this will be significantly lower than in the Azure cloud, of course (enterprises are using their own hardware, after all), but it's an interesting model because it aligns Microsoft and the enterprise's interests: if Azure Stack doesn't work as expected and if developers don't use it, then Microsoft doesn't earn anything.

TechCrunch

In this recession, however, Okun's law did not work as expected in a number of countries.

The Economist

One of the reasons it did not work as expected in the past and may not work this time round is a fundamental confusion between "funding" and "financing".

The Guardian - Opinion

Last week mission managers decided to postpone an engine firing planned for Wednesday after a pair of valves in the spacecraft's propulsion system did not work as expected.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "does not work as expected", ensure the context clearly establishes what the expected outcome was. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "does not work as expected" as a default explanation for technical failures. Instead, delve into the specific reasons for the malfunction to provide more informative feedback.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "does not work as expected" primarily functions as a descriptive statement indicating a discrepancy between an anticipated outcome and the actual result. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is usable and correct in English. This descriptive function is evident in examples where software, treatments, or plans fail to perform as anticipated.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

48%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "does not work as expected" is a versatile expression used to describe situations where outcomes deviate from anticipated results. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable. Its neutral register allows for use in various contexts, including news, science, and business. While effective, writers should avoid overuse in technical explanations and instead focus on specifying the reasons for the failure. Related phrases like "fails to deliver the anticipated results" and "doesn't function as intended" offer alternative ways to express similar ideas. The frequent use of "does not work as expected" in reputable sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability and acceptance in both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fails to deliver the anticipated results

Emphasizes the lack of expected outcomes or accomplishments.

doesn't function as intended

Focuses on the malfunctioning or deviation from the original purpose.

underperforms in practice

Highlights the substandard performance compared to theoretical expectations.

falls short of expectations

Indicates a failure to meet anticipated standards or hopes.

proves ineffective in reality

Stresses the lack of practical effectiveness despite initial promise.

yields unsatisfactory outcomes

Concentrates on the disappointing results or consequences produced.

does not pan out as hoped

Implies a disappointment in how a plan or expectation unfolds.

turns out to be unsuccessful

Emphasizes the ultimate failure or lack of success.

is not up to par

Suggests the performance or quality is below the required level.

lacks the desired efficacy

Highlights the absence of the expected level of effectiveness or potency.

FAQs

How can I use "does not work as expected" in a sentence?

You can use "does not work as expected" to describe situations where something fails to function as intended or anticipated. For example, "The new software update "does not work as expected", causing several glitches."

What are some alternatives to "does not work as expected"?

Alternatives include "fails to deliver the anticipated results", "doesn't function as intended", or "falls short of expectations" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "did not work as expected" or "didn't work as expected"?

Both "did not work as expected" and "didn't work as expected" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the desired level of formality; "didn't" is more informal, while "did not" is more formal.

What's the difference between "does not work as expected" and "does not work as planned"?

"Does not work as expected" implies a deviation from a general anticipation of how something should function, while "does not work as planned" suggests a specific, pre-defined plan has not been fulfilled. The former is broader and less specific than the latter.