fail to happen

USAGE SUMMARY

"fail to happen" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where something was expected or planned to occur, but for some reason, it did not occur. Example: The concert was supposed to start at 8 PM, but due to technical difficulties, it failed to happen until 9 PM.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

After all, when they fail to happen, French voters will surely blame Europe.

The Economist

Should that fail to happen, Bryant would experience his second losing season, but this time with a stronger supporting cast.

The New York Times

By Anthony Lane There is a breed of film in which terribly important things fail to happen, preferably by less than an inch.

The New Yorker

These things cannot fail to happen in a culture where sin is assumed, guilt is encouraged, a rigid hierarchy is present, power is misused, secrecy abounds and unquestioning obedience is required.

The New York Times

Why did that fail to happen during the Bush years, and will a new president and newly elected Congress act to undo the excesses of presidential power over the past eight years?

The New York Times

Cathcart said that, should the break-up fail to happen, he had a number of candidates lined up for the chief executive's job, which has been vacant since Tom Moloney's sudden exit in May.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

This famously failed to happen in Iraq.

Independent

What happened or failed to happen?

The Guardian

WHY pay attention to a deal that failed to happen?

The Economist

All the dire consequences predicted by doubters failed to happen.

The Economist

But the love-in has failed to happen.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fail to happen" when you want to emphasize that something was expected or intended to occur, but it didn't. For instance, "The meeting was scheduled, but it failed to happen due to unforeseen circumstances."

Common error

While "fail to happen" is generally acceptable, consider using more precise alternatives like "not materialize", "not occur", or "fall through", especially in formal contexts to enhance clarity and sophistication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail to happen" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the non-occurrence of an expected or intended event. Ludwig AI indicates that it is a correct and usable phrase. The examples show its role in expressing unfulfilled expectations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fail to happen" is a commonly used phrase to describe situations where an expected event does not occur. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and appears frequently in contexts like News & Media, and Science. While perfectly acceptable, in more formal writing, considering alternatives like "not materialize" or "not occur" could enhance clarity. The phrase is best used to express that there was an expectation that something would happen, and the non-occurrence is noteworthy. While the phrase is valid the alternatives offered, may result more suited and precise depending on the register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not occur

This alternative is a direct and simple way to state that something did not take place.

not come to pass

This alternative emphasizes the lack of fulfillment or realization of an event.

not materialize

This alternative focuses on the lack of physical or concrete manifestation of something.

not take place

Similar to "not occur", but slightly more formal.

fall through

This alternative suggests that a plan or agreement did not succeed or was abandoned.

be prevented from happening

This alternative focuses on the external factors that stopped something from occurring.

be unrealized

This alternative suggests that something remained only as a potential but never became real.

prove abortive

This phrase is more formal and suggests that an attempt was unsuccessful and ended prematurely.

miss the mark

This alternative implies that something did not achieve its intended goal or purpose.

not befall

This alternative is typically used for undesirable events that do not occur.

FAQs

What does "fail to happen" mean?

The phrase "fail to happen" means that something that was expected, planned, or predicted did not occur or materialize.

Which is a better phrase, "fail to happen" or "not happen"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "fail to happen" implies a stronger sense of expectation or intent that something should have occurred, whereas "not happen" is a more neutral statement.

What are some alternatives to "fail to happen"?

Some alternatives include "not occur", "not materialize", or "fall through", depending on the specific context.

Is "fail to happen" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "fail to happen" may be considered less formal. In formal writing, consider using alternatives like "not materialize" or "not occur" for a more sophisticated tone.