fail

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "fail" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone did not achieve something, such as "She failed the exam." It can also be used to describe a situation of non-success, such as "The business venture failed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Should Fifa fail to do so, we have informed them that we will reassess our sponsorship".

The Guardian - Sport

Words fail.

The New York Times - Books

Beyond anecdote, we know very little about what kind and quantity of information is being delisted from search results, what sources are being delisted and on what scale, what kinds of requests fail and in what proportion, and what are Google's guidelines in striking the balance between individual privacy and freedom of expression interests.

The Guardian - Tech

A Labour source said that, given teenagers have a "tremendous vested interest in whether or not we stay in the EU or leave", there could be a strong appetite for amending the EU referendum bill in the Lords, even if Labour and the SNP fail to recruit the relatively small number of Tory rebels they would need to defeat the government in the Commons.

The Guardian

In his opinion, the ongoing talks are doomed to fail because Iran will never put up with the US.

The Guardian

It has been dubbed an "epic fail" and the biggest screw-up in reality TV history – and left some wondering if it wasn't all just a publicity stunt.

The Guardian

The rich can fail to develop sensible long-term financial plans of the kind that all of us can and should do; they still have to cope with the emotional fallout of personal tragedies like Sandberg's.

The Guardian - Money

Cockell said, "We are being pushed into a position where either things will fail or the system has to change … we can't cope unless someone takes that big step … to change the way we operate".

The Guardian

In a broad-brush speech, which frequently touched on the topic of freedom and Berliners' resilience, he could not fail to mention the concern felt across Europe about more modern-day encroachments on individual liberty, the recent revelations of internet surveillance and US drone warfare – issues which dominated his 25-hour visit to the German capital.

The Guardian

I don't want to see my Dad fail like that.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

1. PRAGUE Snowflakes blowing across the Charles Bridge, music recitals in candelit churches, underground bars, firelit restaurants serving huge plates of comfort food and fine red wines... How could your lover fail to be won over?

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing sensitive topics, consider using less direct synonyms of "fail", such as "fall short" or "not succeed", to soften the impact.

Common error

In professional or academic writing, avoid relying solely on the word "fail". Vary your vocabulary with more nuanced terms like "prove abortive" or "miss the mark" to convey specific reasons for the lack of success and improve clarity.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fail" is as a verb, indicating the act of not succeeding or meeting expectations. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is frequently used to express a lack of achievement, often with an infinitive (e.g., "fail to start").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fail" is a versatile verb commonly used to describe a lack of success or inability to meet a specified goal. As Ludwig AI reports, its grammatical status is correct and examples across diverse sources, particularly news and business media, demonstrate its widespread use. While generally neutral, consider context-appropriate alternatives like "fall short" or "not succeed" in sensitive discussions. Be mindful of overuse and enrich your writing with varied vocabulary to convey nuanced reasons for unsuccessful outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be unsuccessful

Replaces "fail" with a more descriptive phrase emphasizing the lack of success.

fall short

Emphasizes the inability to reach a required standard or target.

not succeed

A straightforward alternative, directly negating the concept of success.

prove abortive

Implies that something failed to produce the intended results.

come to naught

Suggests that efforts or plans were wasted, leading to nothing.

meet with failure

Frames "fail" as an encounter with a negative outcome.

be defeated

Highlights the act of being overcome by challenges, leading to failure.

miss the mark

Indicates a failure to achieve a specific target or goal.

break down

Emphasizes the ending of process because of it's failure.

be in vain

Focuses on the fruitless nature of an action, emphasizing a lack of positive results.

FAQs

How can I use the word "fail" in a sentence?

You can use "fail" to describe not succeeding in an attempt or meeting an expectation, for example: "The negotiations "failed" to reach a consensus" or "I "failed" my driving test".

What are some alternatives to the word "fail"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "not succeed", "fall short", or "prove abortive" to express a lack of success.

Is it correct to say "fail to do something"?

Yes, it is correct. The expression "fail to do something" indicates a lack of achievement in performing a specific action. For example: "The company "failed to meet" its sales targets".

What's the difference between "fail" and "failure"?

"Fail" is a verb that describes the act of not succeeding, while "failure" is a noun that refers to the state or instance of not succeeding. For example: "He "failed" the exam" (verb) vs. "The project was a "failure"" (noun).