fail to become

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fail to become" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an inability to achieve a certain state or condition. Example: "Despite his efforts, he failed to become the leader he aspired to be."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If any of these attributes fail to become a deep and formative part of how our white children (becoming teens, young adults, etc).

Huffington Post

With such a start in life, an enterprising virus could hardly fail to become epidemic.

The Economist

Students who fail to become registered will be withdrawn from the University.

Cornell University

Even technologies that have been shown to substantially improve agricultural outcomes in an experiment could fail to become popular.

Yale University

Can it transform the suffering of those who fail to become pop stars, professional footballers, or Olympic medallists?

The Guardian - Opinion

They don't see how they fail to become the third state from zero states to three, in one fell swoop!—to approve same-sex marriage by popular vote.

The New York Times

And yet the trouble with this book isn't that the verities are obvious, but that as the novel goes on they fail to become less obvious.

The New York Times - Books

Given the risk that Chicago might fail to become a great metropolis, values immediately after the crash look low but justifiable.

The Economist

There are hundreds of pilots made each year that fail to become TV series, and so it is increasingly difficult and important to stand out.

Independent

In fact, many women first learn the cause of their diverse symptoms when they fail to become pregnant and consult infertility specialists.

The New York Times - Health

Not only did Pegasus fail to become a player of any kind, but most of its designers, Daryl Kerrigan, Pamela Dennis and Miguel Adrover, dropped from view, too.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fail to become", ensure the subject has the potential or expectation to transform into something else. For example, 'The seed failed to become a tree' implies a natural expectation of growth.

Common error

Avoid using "fail to become" in situations where a simpler, more direct verb would suffice. For instance, instead of 'The project failed to become successful', consider 'The project failed'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail to become" functions as a verb phrase expressing the lack of transition or transformation into a specified state or condition. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it is used to indicate that an expected or intended outcome was not achieved.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

37%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fail to become" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe the absence of transformation or the failure to reach a particular state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. It is advisable to use this phrase when the subject has a clear potential to transform, and to avoid overuse in simplistic sentences. Related alternatives include "not succeed in becoming" and "be unable to become". Overall, "fail to become" is a common and acceptable expression for indicating a lack of achievement or progression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not succeed in becoming

Uses 'succeed' to express the opposite of failure, focusing on the lack of success.

be unable to become

Emphasizes the lack of ability or capacity to achieve the desired state.

not manage to become

Highlights the difficulty in achieving the transformation or reaching the intended state.

prove unable to become

Indicates a demonstration or realization of the inability to transform or change into something.

fall short of becoming

Focuses on not quite reaching the expected or desired transformation.

miss out on becoming

Emphasizes the lost opportunity or chance to transform into the intended state.

be unsuccessful in becoming

Highlights the lack of positive results in the process of transformation.

end without becoming

Focuses on the final outcome where the transformation did not occur.

be defeated in the attempt to become

Emphasizes the element of struggle and ultimate defeat in the transformation process.

never evolve into

Highlights the lack of development into the intended state.

FAQs

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

The phrase "fail to become" is used to describe a situation where something or someone does not achieve a certain state. For example, "Despite his efforts, he failed to become a doctor."

What are some alternatives to "fail to become"?

You can use alternatives like "not succeed in becoming", "be unable to become", or "not manage to become" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "fail to become" or "failed to be"?

While both phrases can be grammatically correct, "fail to become" often implies a process of transformation that doesn't reach its intended outcome. "Failed to be" is a more general statement indicating a lack of existence or a failure to maintain a certain state.

What's the difference between "fail to become" and "fail at becoming"?

"Fail to become" implies a complete lack of transformation into a new state. "Fail at becoming" suggests an attempt was made, but the effort was unsuccessful.