fail to

USAGE SUMMARY

"fail to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use "fail to" when you want to express that something hasn't been done, as in: "The team failed to score at all during the game."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many fail to thrive.

The Economist

Some fail to advance.

The New York Times - Arts

You can't fail to.

The New York Times - Travel

They could hardly fail to.

The Economist

I fail to see how.

The Economist

"You fail to make it?

The New York Times

"If we fail to. . .

The Guardian - Books

Who could fail to?

The New York Times - Arts

They fail to score.

The Guardian - Sport

We fail to evolve.

The Guardian - Opinion

Networks fail to produce fall television hits.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fail to", ensure the sentence clearly indicates what action was not accomplished and the reason, if relevant, to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Be careful not to create double negatives when using "fail to". For example, instead of saying "Do not fail to remember", a clearer phrasing would be "Remember".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail to" functions as a verbal phrase used to negate an action or outcome. As Ludwig AI states, it indicates that something hasn't been done. Examples include "fail to score", "fail to advance", and "fail to see."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

17%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fail to" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express the lack of success in performing an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and usable phrase. It appears frequently in News & Media and Science contexts. While versatile, it's important to avoid double negatives and ensure clarity in expressing the unaccomplished action. Consider alternatives like "omit to" or "neglect to" for more formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

neglect to

This alternative indicates an omission or lack of attention to something.

omit to

Similar to "neglect to", this emphasizes the act of leaving something out.

forget to

Implies an unintentional failure to do something.

fall short of

This suggests not reaching a required standard or goal.

be unable to

Indicates a lack of ability or capacity to perform an action.

miss the mark

Suggests a failure to achieve the intended outcome or target.

prove incapable of

Highlights a demonstrated lack of capability.

not succeed in

Focuses on the lack of success in achieving something.

be unsuccessful at

A more general way of expressing a lack of success.

cannot manage to

This phrase conveys difficulty and ultimate inability to accomplish something.

FAQs

How do I use "fail to" in a sentence?

Use "fail to" to indicate that someone or something did not succeed in doing something. For example, "The team "failed to score" any points."

What's a more formal alternative to "fail to"?

More formal alternatives include phrases like "omit to" or "neglect to", which suggest a more deliberate or significant lack of action.

Which is correct, "fail to" or "failed to"?

"Fail to" is used in the present tense, while "failed to" is used in the past tense. For example, "They often "fail to meet" deadlines," versus "They "failed to meet" the deadline last week."

What can I say instead of "fail to"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "be unable to", "not succeed in", or "fall short of".