fail to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fail to be" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which something or someone does not reach or achieve a desired outcome or result. For example, "Despite their best efforts, the team failed to be successful and reached a deadlock."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nixon could not fail to be impressed.

The New Yorker

Even pedants can fail to be sufficiently pedantic sometimes.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The second is that hypochondriacs often fail to be reassured.

The New Yorker

How could we fail to be proud of such achievements?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Few who hear these discs fail to be awed.

The New York Times - Arts

"Bluetooth will fail to be relevant," Mr. Gurley predicted.

The New York Times

They fail to be lyric-worthy, in Harburg's highest sense.

The New York Times

Symbols obtrude, but Spark's characters fail to be stopped short.

The Guardian - Books

No mother could fail to be interested and moved.

The Guardian - Books

How can these people fail to be interesting?

The New York Times

To fail to be moved is failure indeed.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fail to be" to express a lack of attainment or realization of a specific state or outcome. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is not being achieved.

Common error

While "fail to be" is grammatically correct, avoid overusing it in very formal or stilted writing. Sometimes, a more direct and simpler phrasing can improve clarity and readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail to be" functions as a negative infinitive construction, typically used to indicate a lack of attainment, realization, or achievement of a specified state or condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fail to be" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to express a lack of achievement or realization of a specified state or condition. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usefulness. The phrase is particularly common in news, scientific, and academic writing. While versatile, writers should be mindful of the context and consider alternative phrasings if the tone is too formal or stilted for the intended audience. Related phrases like "fall short of being" or "not succeed in being" may offer more suitable options depending on the specific nuance desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fall short of being

Emphasizes a deficiency or inadequacy in reaching a certain level or standard.

not succeed in being

Directly states the lack of success in attaining a specific condition.

prove unable to be

Highlights an inability that becomes evident over time or through experience.

be unsuccessful in being

Formally expresses the lack of success in achieving a particular state.

end up not being

Focuses on the eventual outcome of not achieving a particular state.

turn out to not be

Suggests a result that is contrary to what was expected or intended.

be found wanting as

Suggests a judgment of inadequacy or deficiency in fulfilling a role or expectation.

neglect to be

Emphasizes a failure resulting from omission or lack of attention.

miss out on being

Focuses on the lost opportunity to achieve a certain status or state.

omit to be

Highlights an intentional or unintentional failure to include something.

FAQs

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

You can use "fail to be" to describe a situation where something doesn't achieve a certain state or outcome. For example, "The experiment may "fail to be" conclusive due to unforeseen variables."

What are some alternatives to "fail to be"?

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

Is it more appropriate to say "failed to be" or "fail to be"?

The choice between "failed to be" and "fail to be" depends on the tense of the sentence. Use "failed to be" for past events and "fail to be" for present or general situations. For example, "The project failed to be completed on time" (past) versus "The project may "fail to be" completed on time" (present/future possibility).

What's the difference between "fail to be" and "not be"?

"Fail to be" implies an attempt or expectation that was not met, whereas "not be" simply states the absence of something. For example, "The attempt may "fail to be" successful" suggests an effort towards success that might not work, while "It will not be successful" simply asserts that success is not expected or possible.