exactly failed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exactly failed" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used to emphasize the precise nature of a failure, but it is better to use it in contexts where clarity is prioritized. Example: "The project exactly failed to meet the deadline, resulting in significant consequences for the team."

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Livingstone has never exactly failed, except at grammar school, where he got one low-grade A-level and was told to look for a job in a garage.

The Guardian

The best critics of fiction are probably novelists manqués, men who have attempted the art and, if not exactly failed, not succeeded as well as they could have wished.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There's no question that the creators of "The Pacific" set out to honor the marines' experience; they haven't exactly failed to do that, but neither have they succeeded in leading viewers to a deeper appreciation of this — then and now — faraway war.

The New Yorker

There's no question that the creators of "The Pacific" set out to honor the marines' experience; they haven't exactly failed to do that, but neither have they succeeded in leading viewers to a deeper appreciation of this then and now faraway war.

The New Yorker

Both Lucent and Nortel offer network management software that tells a carrier where, for example, he's got a failure and what exactly failed.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

MOSCOW — I didn't exactly fail my civics exam, but I came very close: 78 out 100 is the worst I have ever scored on any exam.

The New York Times

Teachers need quick turnaround data tools to know exactly which student failed to master exactly which skills.

Huffington Post

Why exactly it had failed, no one would precisely say.

The Economist

The poor integration of the software (role-playing and storytelling aspects) and the hardware's usability is exactly why Virtual Boy failed when it was released in 1995 — it was just too big of a mental leap for gamers.

TechCrunch

David Cameron did exactly what Jeremy Corbyn failed to do a week ago.

The Guardian - Opinion

The pass mark was 360, which she got, exactly, but she failed the overall test because she was 10 marks short of passing maths.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "exactly failed", ensure that the context requires emphasizing the precision or specific nature of the failure. It can add a layer of specificity if needed.

Common error

While "exactly failed" isn't grammatically incorrect, it can sound awkward or unnatural in many contexts. Consider using alternatives like "completely failed" or "utterly failed" unless you specifically need to emphasize the precise nature of the failure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exactly failed" functions as a modifier emphasizing the precision or specific manner of the failure. Ludwig AI indicates it's acceptable but not commonly used, suggesting a context where the precision of the failure is significant.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exactly failed" is an acceptable but uncommon construction used to emphasize the precise nature of a failure. Ludwig AI points out that its usage can sometimes sound awkward if overused. While grammatically sound, alternatives like "completely failed" or "utterly failed" often provide a more natural flow. It is more common in journalistic and scientific contexts, where the specific details of a failure are important. Remember that "exactly failed" is most effective when you want to draw attention to a specific deviation from an expected outcome, but it should be used judiciously to maintain clarity and naturalness in your writing. It's registered as Neutral.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly failed

This alternative intensifies the sense of failure, emphasizing its completeness.

completely failed

Similar to 'utterly failed', this emphasizes the thoroughness of the failure.

precisely failed

This option maintains the emphasis on exactness, synonymous with the original phrase.

definitely failed

This phrase expresses the certain and undeniable nature of the failure.

certainly failed

Similar to 'definitely failed', it highlights the lack of doubt surrounding the failure.

unequivocally failed

This emphasizes that there is no ambiguity or question that a failure occurred.

absolutely failed

This intensifies the failure, suggesting it was total and without exception.

failed in every respect

This phrase highlights that the failure was comprehensive, affecting all aspects.

totally unsuccessful

This shifts the phrasing to focus on the lack of success rather than the act of failing, implying a similar outcome.

fell completely short

This highlights the deficiency in achieving the desired outcome or standard.

FAQs

How can I use "exactly failed" in a sentence?

You can use "exactly failed" when you want to emphasize that something did not just fail, but it failed in a very specific or precise way. For example, "The experiment exactly failed to meet the control group's results."

What's a stronger way to say "exactly failed"?

Alternatives to "exactly failed" that convey a stronger sense of failure include "utterly failed", "completely failed", or "absolutely failed". These phrases intensify the sense of failure.

Is "exactly failed" grammatically incorrect?

No, "exactly failed" isn't grammatically incorrect, but it's not a common or idiomatic expression. While understandable, it can sound somewhat unnatural compared to more common phrases.

When should I avoid using "exactly failed"?

Avoid using "exactly failed" in contexts where a simple, clear statement of failure is sufficient. In many cases, "simply failed" or "failed completely" will sound more natural and less awkward.