encountered failure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "encountered failure" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where someone or something has faced a setback or unsuccessful outcome. Example: "Despite their best efforts, the team encountered failure during the final stages of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

True to her contemporary dance roots, she ended the exercise only when they encountered failure.

The New York Times - Arts

Thermal fatigue cracking is one of the mostly encountered failure mechanisms for die halves in the die casting industry.

International Journal of Fatigue

Wear and corrosion are two of the three most frequently encountered failure modes for mechanical components working under aggressive conditions.

Intermetallics

Lateral collapses due to earthquakes and progressive collapses due to the sudden destruction of the columns are two of the most commonly encountered failure mechanisms for buildings.

Engineering Structures

Christine Lagarde, the French minister of finance and the first woman to fill the role for a G8 country, looks as if she has never encountered failure – yet was once told she could not have the job she coveted.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

All of them encountered failure along the way.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

A semi-Markov process is employed to describe the encountered failures of the actuator.

Fuzzy Sets and Systems

Cozi stressed that while we see curated versions of successful professionals on LinkedIn, they've all encountered failures to get where they are.

HuffPost

Fault tolerant manipulators are capable of completing their critical tasks after encountering failure.

Mechanism and Machine Theory

While some researchers have reported that children just starting school are motivationally invulnerable, others have found evidence of helplessness when these children encounter failure.

Stanford University

… Learning to solve problems, take risks and overcome frustration are crucial life skills, many child development experts say, and if parents don't let their children encounter failure, the children don't acquire them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "encountered failure", consider the context. It often implies a specific instance where something went wrong, rather than a general state of failure. Use it to highlight a particular challenge or setback within a larger process or effort.

Common error

Avoid using "encountered failure" when simpler alternatives like "failed" or "didn't succeed" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or dramatic, especially in casual contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "encountered failure" typically functions as a verb phrase, often used to describe a subject's experience with a setback. This is supported by Ludwig AI which validates the proper grammar usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

41%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "encountered failure" describes the experience of facing an unsuccessful outcome, often implying a specific or unexpected instance. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness and highlights its use across diverse fields, particularly in science and news media. While it is a valid phrase, remember to consider simpler alternatives to avoid sounding overly dramatic in casual settings. When using this phrase, you're often highlighting a particular challenge or setback within a larger process or effort.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Didn't succeed

A straightforward, simple way of saying that something failed.

Was unsuccessful

A formal alternative to "didn't succeed".

Experienced setback

Replaces "failure" with the more general term "setback".

Came up short

Emphasizes the lack of success in achieving a goal.

Met with defeat

Emphasizes the negative outcome, using "defeat" instead of "failure".

Suffered a loss

Highlights the aspect of losing something as a result of the failure.

Underwent frustration

Focuses on the emotional experience associated with failure.

Faced adversity

Broadens the scope to include any kind of difficulty, not just failure.

Ran into trouble

Uses a more informal expression to indicate problems.

Stumbled upon difficulty

Implies an unexpected encounter with a problem.

FAQs

What does "encountered failure" mean?

The phrase "encountered failure" means to experience or come across a situation where something does not succeed or meet the desired outcome. It implies a specific instance of something going wrong.

Is it better to say "encountered failure" or "faced failure"?

Both "encountered failure" and "faced failure" are grammatically correct. "Faced failure" may be slightly more common, but "encountered failure" emphasizes the unexpected or specific nature of the setback.

What are some alternatives to "encountered failure"?

Some alternatives to "encountered failure" include "experienced setback", "met with defeat", "suffered a loss", or "didn't succeed" depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

How can I use "encountered failure" in a sentence?

You can use "encountered failure" to describe a specific instance where something did not go as planned. For example: "Despite their meticulous planning, the team "encountered failure" during the final test phase."