fail collectively

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fail collectively" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where a group or team does not succeed together in achieving a goal or task. Example: "If we don't communicate effectively, we will fail collectively in this project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Doyin Okupe, Mr. Obasanjo's spokesman, said in a statement: "The enemies of this administration who hide under the cloak of religious piety to try to destabilize it will fail collectively, as it is not in the manifest destiny of this country that it should disintegrate".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We all failed collectively.

The New York Times

We've failed collectively.

The New Yorker

We have failed collectively since Plato first choked on an olive.

The New Yorker

E-mail address GO SIGN UP Share Tweet We've failed collectively.

The New Yorker

Every pro-Remain member will be feeling the same deep sense of disappointment and regret that I am feeling this weekend, as we have failed, collectively, to save the UK from a reckless leap into the unknown, and we fear it is the people we came into politics to represent who will be hurt first and worst.

The Guardian - Opinion

East Asia, write Mr Soesastro and Mr Drysdale, "had significant prudential responsibility and it failed collectively at every stage to exercise it".The message is now getting home, which helps explain why Mr Rudd's idea of a "community", roundly panned when he first unveiled it, is now viewed with more respect.

The Economist

Colleges and universities failed collectively to demonstrate that the liberal arts prepared a thinking public to write, articulate, use quantitative methods, working in collaborative settings, and apply technology.

Huffington Post

Findings indicate that companies fail to collectively respond to climate change due to the multiplicity of interests of actors involved in the network which is aggravated by 1) economic reasoning; 2) weak actor bonds; and 3) differing perceptions of the rules of the game.

Industrial Marketing Management

But I felt deeply ashamed, and most of all, sorrowful, because  we had failed again, collectively, to protect those who needed protection.

Los Angeles Times

The opposition in Serbia has been in disarray for years, and it failed to collectively get behind one candidate, enabling Vucic and and his Serbian Progressive Party to win 55percentt of the votes.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fail collectively", ensure that the context clearly indicates which group or entity is failing and what the specific failure entails. Provide enough detail for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "fail collectively" without specifying the area of failure. Saying "we failed collectively" is vague. Instead, specify "we failed collectively to meet the deadline" or "we failed collectively in our marketing efforts".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail collectively" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe a situation where a group or a collective entity does not succeed in achieving a specific goal or task. As Ludwig AI validates, the expression correctly integrates the verb "fail" with the adverb "collectively".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fail collectively" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe shared failure among a group. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable term across various writing contexts. Its primary function is to assign shared responsibility for a negative outcome. While commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, understanding when and how to use it can significantly enhance clarity and impact in writing. Remember to avoid overgeneralization by specifying the area of failure and providing adequate context to your readers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Collectively fall short

Replaces "fail" with "fall short", emphasizing a lack of reaching a desired standard.

Fail as a group

Uses simpler language to convey the idea of a group failing together.

Jointly unsuccessful

Replaces "fail" with "unsuccessful" and "collectively" with "jointly", creating a more formal tone.

Share the responsibility for failure

Highlights the shared accountability for a negative outcome.

Suffer a collective defeat

Emphasizes the negative outcome of failing, using the word "defeat".

Be collectively liable

Focuses on shared legal or moral responsibility for failure.

Succumb together

Uses a more dramatic verb to describe the act of failing.

End in shared disappointment

Highlights the emotional consequence of failing together.

Experience a joint setback

Focuses on a temporary failure or obstacle experienced together.

Be jointly responsible for the fiasco

Uses stronger language ("fiasco") to emphasize the severity of the failure.

FAQs

How can I use "fail collectively" in a sentence?

You can use "fail collectively" to describe situations where a group or organization does not achieve a shared goal, such as "If we don't communicate effectively, we will "fail collectively" in this project."

What are some alternatives to "fail collectively"?

Some alternatives to "fail collectively" include "collectively fall short", "fail as a group", or "jointly unsuccessful", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "fail collectively" or "collective failure"?

While both phrases are valid, "fail collectively" is a verb phrase that describes the action of failing together, whereas "collective failure" is a noun phrase referring to the result of that failure. The choice depends on the sentence structure and desired emphasis.

What does it mean when people "fail collectively"?

When people ""fail collectively"", it means they could not fulfil an expected goal because their work or vision was not shared or followed as planned. It means that the people working together didn't succeed.