fail to adhere

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fail to adhere" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing non-compliance with rules, guidelines, or standards. Example: "If you fail to adhere to the safety protocols, you may face disciplinary action."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Increasing one's awareness of the benefits of the medication is unlikely to improve adherence in patients who unintentionally fail to adhere to medication.

BMC Health Services Research

Within the last three decades a number of studies have reported that as many as 40%% of the patients fail to adhere to treatment recommendations while the percentage of non-adherent patients increases to 70%% when treatment regimens are too complicated and/or require lifestyle changes and modification of existing habits (reviewed in [ 34]).

Archives of Dermatological Research

Unintentional non-adherence, on the other hand, is a passive process whereby patients fail to adhere to prescribing instructions through forgetfulness, carelessness, or circumstances out of their control (e.g., health literacy) [ 6, 7].

BMC Health Services Research

"There needs to be redress for victims if sentencers fail to adhere to guidelines.

The Guardian

Why, sometimes we even fail to adhere to the rules laid down in our own style guide.

The Guardian - Opinion

Patients infected with tuberculosis are given inadequate courses of antibiotics, or they fail to adhere to the course of treatment they are given.

The New York Times

Another referee, lawyer Michael Kirkitsche, said it was "utterly out of character" for Miles to fail to adhere to his legal responsibilities.

The Guardian

But use of force policy changes are insufficient without building the capacity to hold officers who fail to adhere to these policies accountable.

The Guardian - Opinion

Her messy, uncontrolled reactions fail to adhere to the standards of careful composure learned by the older woman as a member of the Widows League.

The New York Times

Teams that fail to adhere to the new guidelines, which also re-emphasize league's anti-tampering provisions, may face penalties ranging from fines to a loss of draft picks.

The New York Times - Sports

DUBLIN — Ireland appears poised to ratify in a referendum on Thursday a European Union treaty intended to stabilize the euro by punishing member states that fail to adhere to strict budgetary constraints.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "fail to adhere" with stronger synonyms like "violate" or "breach" when emphasizing a deliberate contravention of rules.

Common error

While "fail to adhere" is acceptable, overuse can make writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "not comply with" or "disregard" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail to adhere" functions as a verb phrase indicating a lack of compliance or obedience to a rule, standard, or guideline. It is often used to describe actions that do not meet expected or required criteria. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fail to adhere" is a versatile verb phrase used to indicate a lack of compliance with rules, guidelines, or standards. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in various contexts, particularly in science, news, and formal business settings. While synonyms like "not comply with" and "disregard" can provide variety, it's important to ensure the context clearly defines the violated standard for effective communication. Overusing the phrase in formal writing can sound repetitive, so it is best to vary your language to maintain reader engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not comply with

Focuses on the lack of compliance with a specific requirement.

neglect to follow

Emphasizes a disregard or oversight in following instructions or guidelines.

disregard

Highlights a conscious choice to ignore or pay no attention to something.

not abide by

Indicates a refusal or inability to follow or accept a rule or agreement.

be in breach of

Suggests a violation of a formal agreement or law.

contravene

Implies direct opposition to a rule or law.

infringe upon

Highlights the act of trespassing upon something (like a copyright) but is used as an alternative.

deviate from

Focuses on departing from an established course or standard.

fall short of

Emphasizes a failure to meet a required standard or expectation.

act contrary to

Highlights acting in opposition to a specific standard or guideline.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "fail to adhere"?

You can use alternatives like "not comply with", "neglect to follow", or "disregard" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "fail to adhere to" or "fail to adhere with"?

The correct and more common usage is "fail to adhere to". The preposition "to" indicates a connection or obligation to a specific rule, standard, or guideline.

What's the difference between "fail to adhere" and "refuse to adhere"?

"Fail to adhere" suggests a lack of compliance, possibly unintentional, while "refuse to adhere" implies a deliberate decision not to comply.

How can I use "fail to adhere" in a sentence?

You can use "fail to adhere" to indicate that someone is not following a rule or guideline. For example, "If you fail to adhere to the safety protocols, you may face disciplinary action."