fail to call

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fail to call" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone did not make a phone call as expected or required. Example: "I was worried when he failed to call after our meeting, as we had agreed to discuss the next steps."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

The "failure to rescue" literature identifies that nursing staff miss cues of deterioration and often fail to call for assistance.

Nurse Education Today

Research by polling firms and academic groups suggests that polls that fail to call cellphones may underestimate the performance of Democratic candidates.

The New York Times

You once again call for Hamas to renounce violence and fail to call for Israel to also take the same step.

The New York Times

Should he say something highly inflammatory — for example, about Mexicans again — candidates may look timid if they fail to call him out.

The New York Times

Not a day passes in which rightwing papers fail to call for stiffer regulation of protesters, problem families, petty criminals or antisocial teenagers.

The Guardian - Opinion

I think of my father at least once a day, try (but fail) to call him once a week, and, as required, afford him regular access to his grandchildren.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Unfortunately the current version of GenomeStudio is not designed to call polyploid genotypes and consistently failed to call or mis-called MSV-5s.

BMC Genomics

I failed to call it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Had God's angel failed to call out —  "Abraham!

The New York Times

The Swedish referee Martin Hansson failed to call a hand ball.

The New York Times

Petitioner's arguments failed to "call into doubt" the two fatal deficiencies identified by the District Court.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fail to call", ensure the context clearly indicates the expectation or necessity of a call. For instance, specify the time, reason, or agreement related to the call.

Common error

Avoid using "fail to call" when a call was simply not required or expected. Using it in such contexts can create unintended implications of negligence or oversight.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail to call" functions as a verb phrase expressing the omission of an action, specifically, the action of making a phone call. As Ludwig AI states, it indicates that someone did not make a phone call as expected or required.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fail to call" is a versatile and commonly used expression to indicate the omission of a phone call, often implying a missed expectation or obligation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound phrase suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and academic writing. While alternatives like "neglect to call" or "omit to call" exist, "fail to call" provides a clear and direct way to communicate this specific inaction. It's important to ensure the context justifies its use, as unintended implications can arise if a call wasn't actually expected. Therefore, while "fail to call" is generally accepted, a writer must exercise caution to avoid implying negligence where none exists.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

neglect to call

Indicates a lack of attention or forgetfulness in making a call.

omit to call

Suggests an intentional or unintentional leaving out of the act of calling.

forget to call

Implies a lapse in memory leading to not making a call.

missed calling

Highlights that the opportunity to call was not taken.

didn't call

A straightforward statement of not having made a call.

refrained from calling

Suggests a deliberate decision not to make a call.

avoided calling

Implies an active effort to not make a call.

passed up calling

Indicates a conscious choice to not make a call, often implying a missed opportunity.

did not phone

A more formal way of stating that a phone call was not made.

neglected phoning

Similar to "neglect to call", but uses the verb 'phoning'.

FAQs

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

You can use "fail to call" to indicate that someone did not make a phone call when it was expected or necessary. For example, "He was supposed to update me yesterday, but he failed to call."

What does "fail to call" mean?

"Fail to call" means to not make a phone call, often implying a missed obligation or expectation. It suggests that someone should have called but didn't.

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

Alternatives to "fail to call" include "neglect to call", "omit to call", or simply "didn't call" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "failed to call" or "didn't call"?

"Failed to call" is slightly more formal and emphasizes the missed expectation or obligation. "Didn't call" is more informal and simply states the absence of a call. The best choice depends on the context and desired tone.