fail to discover

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fail to discover" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing an inability to find or uncover something, whether it be information, a solution, or a fact. Example: "Despite extensive research, the scientists failed to discover the cause of the anomaly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

How did the federal agency entrusted to protect investors fail to discover the Ponzi scheme?

Harvard University

I'm against experiments that fail to discover anything new and that make what are now pretty standard avant-garde moves.

The Guardian - Books

Indeed, in many real-world domains, experts can often understand and identify key relationships that data alone may fail to discover, no matter how large the dataset.

Knowledge-Based Systems

Instead, we followed the advice of another first-time home buyer who had made this mistake, only to have the inspector fail to discover some of the problems with the home.

The New York Times

In another study, similar feelings of confidence experienced by a team leader caused the leader to do most of the talking during the team discussion and, as a result, to fail to discover critical information that other team members had.

Harvard Business Review

Under the law, which takes effect on April 1st, the finance minister can fine firms up to 100m won ($380,000), and individuals up to 50m won if they fail to discover that the books they are auditing have been cooked.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

The statement said that if government regulators, including OSHA, failed to discover the alleged violations before the fire, they should be the ones charged with failing to do their duty.

The New York Times

They failed to discover sufficient oil & gas & huge debts resulted.

The New Yorker

When copies have a 90° or 270° rotation, Kim's method fails to discover them.

Journal of Systems and Software

Brooke, having failed to discover stimulation in her native New England, now discovers it in Jagat.

The New York Times

It was therefore no surprise that Earth-based observations failed to discover the ring before Voyager.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fail to discover" when you want to emphasize the unsuccessful attempt to find or reveal something, especially when effort or expectation was involved.

Common error

Avoid using "fail to discover" when a more direct active voice construction would be clearer. For instance, instead of saying "The error failed to be discovered by the system", try "The system did not discover the error."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail to discover" functions as a verb phrase that indicates an unsuccessful attempt at finding or learning something. As shown by Ludwig, the phrase is used to express that an effort to discover something did not yield the expected result.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

32%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fail to discover" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe an unsuccessful attempt to find or learn something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use across various domains, including news, science, and academia. When writing, consider using this phrase to emphasize the lack of success in a search or investigation. If you want to use alternatives, consider phrases such as "unable to find" or "did not uncover" to convey the same meaning with slightly different nuances. Be aware of using passive voice constructions. Overall, understanding the contexts in which this phrase is most effective will enhance the precision and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unable to find

Indicates a lack of ability to locate something.

did not uncover

Suggests a lack of success in revealing something hidden.

missed the opportunity to discover

Highlights a lost chance to find something.

failed to unearth

Similar to "did not uncover", emphasizing a lack of success in finding something buried or hidden.

neglected to find

Suggests that due to negligence, something was not discovered.

overlooked the chance to discover

Highlights the fact that a chance to discover something was missed

were unsuccessful in finding

Formally expresses the failure to locate something.

did not detect

Focuses on the lack of perception or detection of something.

could not ascertain

Emphasizes the inability to determine something with certainty.

remained ignorant of

Highlights a state of lacking knowledge or awareness.

FAQs

What does "fail to discover" mean?

The phrase "fail to discover" means to be unsuccessful in finding, learning, or becoming aware of something, despite possibly making an effort to do so. It implies that the discovery was expected or desired but did not occur.

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

You can use "fail to discover" to describe situations where someone or something was unable to find or learn about something. For example: "The investigation "failed to discover" any evidence of wrongdoing."

What are some alternatives to "fail to discover"?

Alternatives to "fail to discover" include "unable to find", "did not uncover", or "could not ascertain", depending on the context. These alternatives can provide a similar meaning with slightly different nuances.

Is "failed to discover" the same as "did not try to discover"?

No, "failed to discover" implies an attempt was made, but it was unsuccessful. "Did not try to discover" suggests there was no attempt made at all. Therefore, they have different meanings and are not interchangeable.