fail to doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fail to doing" is not correct in English.
The correct form would be "fail to do." Example: "He tends to fail to do his homework on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It is a marked shift for Wilson, who has gone from trying everything in his power to make the opposing batter fail to doing whatever he can to help his teammates succeed.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Connoisseurs tend to fail to do so.

The New Yorker

But some people fail to do this.

The New York Times

Or fail to do it?

The New York Times

But too many fail to do that.

The Guardian - Opinion

So why do we fail to do this with refugees?

The Guardian

To fail to do the same now is hypocrisy.

The New York Times

However, they often fail to do so in practice.

The Economist

But many commodity-dependent economies fail to do this.

The Economist

Those that fail to do so are fined.

The Economist

You may fail to do the right thing.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "fail to do" instead of "fail to doing". The latter is grammatically incorrect. For example, say "They fail to do their job" instead of "They fail to doing their job".

Common error

Avoid using the gerund form (-ing) after "to" when "to" is part of the infinitive marker. "To" should be followed by the base form of the verb. The gerund is used after prepositions, but here, "to" is not a preposition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail to doing" is intended to express the inability or failure to perform an action. However, it is grammatically incorrect. This is because "to" in this context is part of the infinitive, which requires the base form of the verb (i.e., "do") rather than the gerund form ("doing"). Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical issue.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "fail to doing" might appear in various sources, it is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "fail to do". Ludwig AI underlines this point. The intended meaning is to express the inability or failure to perform an action. Usage contexts span news, science, and informal writing, but because of the grammatical error it should be avoided in more formal contexts. Remember to use the base form of the verb after "to" in the infinitive form, and consider alternatives like "neglect to do" or "be unable to do" to enhance clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fail to do

This is the grammatically correct form of the phrase.

neglect to do

Emphasizes a lack of attention or responsibility in performing an action.

be unable to do

Highlights the lack of capacity or ability to perform an action.

omit to do

Focuses on the act of leaving something undone or unperformed.

refrain from doing

Indicates a deliberate choice not to perform an action.

avoid doing

Suggests an attempt to stay away from performing an action.

fall short of doing

Implies not reaching the required standard or level when performing an action.

miss doing

Focuses on failing to seize an opportunity to perform an action.

be deficient in doing

Highlights a lack of skill or capability when performing an action.

prove incapable of doing

Emphasizes a demonstrated inability to perform an action.

FAQs

What is the correct form, "fail to do" or "fail to doing"?

"Fail to do" is the correct form. "Fail to doing" is grammatically incorrect. You should always use the base form of the verb after "to" when it is part of the infinitive.

What does "fail to do" mean?

It means to not succeed in performing an action or task. It suggests a lack of success or fulfillment of an expected outcome.

What are some alternatives to "fail to do"?

Alternatives include "neglect to do", "be unable to do", or "omit to do", depending on the specific context.

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

Example: "If you fail to do your homework, you will not pass the class." Always use the base form of the verb after "to".