fail to do something

USAGE SUMMARY

"fail to do something" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to not be able to or not succeed in doing something. It is typically used in a sentence when someone did not achieve a desired outcome or did not complete a task successfully. Example: Despite studying for hours, she failed to pass the exam. In this sentence, "fail to do something" is used to describe the outcome of the person's studying - they were not able to pass the exam. Here are a few more examples: - He failed to follow the instructions and ended up burning the meal. - The team failed to win the championship for the second year in a row. - The company failed to meet its sales targets for the quarter. - I'm disappointed that I failed to make it to the final round of the competition. - The government failed to provide adequate support during the natural disaster.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Another argued that failing should be seen as "not what you do wrong but if you fail to do something right" but conceded that this was harder to measure.

The Guardian

The first, an example in which an agent may fail to do something it is supposed to do, shows how we deal with violations of protocols and specifications generally.

Journal of Applied Logic

Ranallo sounded too glib, but there was something transfixing (and, of course, sad) about watching Márquez fail to do something he probably never should have tried.

The New Yorker

Looking back across the centuries, it is hard to conceive of a world in which newspapers operating in a competitive market could fail to do something so obvious.

The Guardian - Books

Did they carry out their duties to an adequate standard or did they fail to do something that was necessary in the situation in line with their professional role?

The Guardian

Dare to fail to do something new.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Guilt is the discomfort that comes from recognizing that you've done something wrong, or failed to do something right.

The New Yorker

"Looking at it out of context, people believe the agency failed to do something.

The New York Times

Most disheartening is that coaches and university and student athletic leaders failed to do something about it.

The New York Times

This injustice has been causing misery for years, and successive governments have failed to do something about it.

The Guardian - Money

"It's very hard," he said, "even if your evidence is not ambiguous, to sell to a jury that they need to do something that you failed to do something about for years".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fail to do something", ensure the context clearly indicates the expected action and the reason for the failure. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "fail to do something" when a task was never intended or expected. It's best used when there was a clear expectation or attempt that wasn't fulfilled.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail to do something" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a lack of success or inability to perform a specified action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. Examples show it describing missed targets, unmet expectations, or unfulfilled responsibilities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fail to do something" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase indicating a lack of success in performing an action. Ludwig AI validates this conclusion, confirming it is suitable for various contexts including news, science, and formal business settings. While alternatives exist to provide nuanced meaning, understanding the appropriate use of "fail to do something" enhances clarity and precision in writing. Remember to use it when a clear expectation or attempt was not fulfilled.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fall short of achieving

This phrase focuses on the lack of achievement or success.

be unsuccessful in accomplishing

This emphasizes the lack of success in completing a task.

prove unable to complete

Emphasizes a demonstrated inability to finish a task.

neglect to perform an action

This alternative highlights the aspect of neglecting or overlooking the action.

not manage to execute

This alternative highlights the inability to execute or perform a task.

omit to carry out

This is a more formal way of expressing the failure to perform an action, emphasizing omission.

end up not doing

This alternative is more casual and focuses on the final result of not performing the action.

miss the opportunity to act

This focuses on missing an opportunity to perform a specific action.

default on

This implies a failure to fulfill an obligation or duty.

drop the ball on

This is an idiomatic expression indicating a failure to fulfill a responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "fail to do something" in a sentence?

Use "fail to do something" to indicate a lack of success in performing an action or fulfilling an expectation. For example: "The company "failed to meet its targets" this quarter".

What are some alternatives to "fail to do something"?

Alternatives include "neglect to perform an action", "omit to carry out", or "fall short of achieving", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "fail to do something" or "failed in doing something"?

"Fail to do something" is generally preferred. While "failed in doing something" might be understood, it is less common and can sound awkward. Using "fail to do something" is more direct and grammatically sound.

What's the difference between "fail to do something" and "avoid doing something"?

"Fail to do something" means not succeeding in performing an action. "Avoid doing something" means intentionally preventing oneself from performing the action. The former implies lack of success, while the latter implies deliberate prevention.