fail to describe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fail to describe" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something does not adequately convey or explain a particular subject or concept. Example: "The report fails to describe the underlying issues that led to the project's failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

My words fail to describe it".

The Guardian

Pitt: " I felt an awe that words fail to describe".

The Guardian

It was found that available force-field models fail to describe accurately many-atom distribution functions.

Acta Materialia

Both theories fail to describe the integration of the rational and the creative aspects of the design process.

Frontiers of Architectural Research

And then there is her attention to the aftermath: rather than let people try, and fail, to describe the endless magnitude of it, she has the pictures.

The Guardian

Event generators with only two outgoing high transverse momentum partons fail to describe the measurement, even when supplemented with next-to-leading-order QCD corrections and parton showers.

Princeton University

We generally do not apply the " 'strong medicine' " of overbreadth analysis where the parties fail to describe the instances of arguable overbreadth of the contested law.

Cornell University

The uncertainty associated with these methods is typically high, since parameters based on geometrical averages can fail to describe important characteristics of surface topography.

International Journal of Fatigue

We suggest further performance evaluation of these models during wetting periods when they are known to fail to describe preferential and non-equilibrium flow phenomena.

Journal of Hydrology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

However, most of the models available in the literature failed to describe our observed results.

Chemical Engineering Science

Several popular multiaxial fatigue criteria failed to describe all fatigue data.

International Journal of Fatigue

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fail to describe", ensure that you provide context as to why the description is inadequate. For instance, specify the limitations of the description or what aspects are not being captured.

Common error

Avoid using "fail to describe" when a description is simply incomplete or requires further detail. Instead, reserve it for situations where the description is fundamentally flawed or misleading. Otherwise, phrases like "does not fully capture" or "requires further elaboration" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail to describe" functions as a negative descriptor, indicating an inability or inadequacy in providing a sufficient or accurate representation of something. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where the phrase is used to critique models, theories, or descriptions that don't meet the required standard.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fail to describe" is a commonly used phrase to express that something inadequately conveys or explains a particular subject or concept. Ludwig AI analysis, supported by numerous examples, indicates that it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in science, academia, and news media. When using this phrase, it's crucial to provide context as to why the description is inadequate to avoid overstating the failure. While alternatives like "do not adequately explain" or "struggle to articulate" exist, "fail to describe" effectively highlights deficiencies in descriptive or explanatory power.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inadequately portray

Highlights the deficiency in the level of portrayal rather than the inability to portray.

fall short of depicting

Emphasizes that the description doesn't reach the required level or standard.

do not adequately explain

Focuses on the lack of sufficient explanation.

struggle to articulate

Highlights the effort and difficulty in expressing something.

cannot fully capture

Indicates that some aspects are inevitably lost in the description.

offer an incomplete account of

Emphasizes that the description is not comprehensive.

only partially represent

Suggests the description captures some, but not all aspects.

provide a limited view of

Indicates the description is restricted in scope.

neglect to explain

Indicates an omission in the explanation.

gloss over

Suggests a superficial or cursory treatment of the subject.

FAQs

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

You can use "fail to describe" to indicate that something is inadequate in conveying a particular concept or subject, as in "The existing models "fail to describe" the observed phenomenon accurately".

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

In formal writing, you could replace "fail to describe" with phrases like "do not adequately convey", "are insufficient to depict", or "do not fully represent". These alternatives maintain a professional tone while conveying the same meaning.

Is it always negative to say something "fails to describe" something?

Yes, the phrase "fail to describe" inherently carries a negative connotation, implying a deficiency or inadequacy in the description. It suggests that the subject or concept is not being accurately or completely conveyed.

What's the difference between "fail to explain" and "fail to describe"?

"Fail to explain" suggests a lack of providing reasons or understanding, while "fail to describe" indicates an inability to provide an adequate account or representation. "Fail to explain" focuses on reasoning, whereas "fail to describe" is about representation.