fail to turn

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fail to turn" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone did not turn or change direction as expected or required. Example: "The driver failed to turn at the intersection, leading to a minor accident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Did anyone fail to turn up, or fail to return?

The New Yorker

When I walk into a room, heads fail to turn.

The New Yorker

Many fail to turn up at all on Fridays.

The Economist

However, companies often fail to turn their products into industry platforms.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But in the view of most critics these arguments fail to turn wrongs into rights.

Princeton University

In some London courts, two-thirds of those called for jury service fail to turn up.

The Economist

It also benefits from those who fail to turn up for a flight.

The Economist

EOS quickly sends out reminders to those referred by jobcentres who fail to turn up.

The Economist

Those who fail to turn up face fines, and must still attend the next session.

The Economist

Chappell himself has claimed that Green "genuinely thought" Retail Acquisitions would fail to turn around BHS.

The Guardian - Business

Wilted, dead bouquets – or flowers that fail to turn up at all.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where an expected action does not occur, use "fail to turn" to clearly communicate the lack of action. For example, "The car failed to turn at the intersection."

Common error

Avoid using "fail to turn" when a more specific verb accurately describes the inaction. For example, instead of "The lights failed to turn on", use "The lights didn't illuminate".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail to turn" functions as a verb phrase indicating a lack of action or inability to perform a rotation or directional change. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

27%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fail to turn" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression denoting a lack of rotation or directional change, as verified by Ludwig AI. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for diverse contexts, including news, academic writing, and scientific reports. Usage data from Ludwig indicates that the phrase is most common in "News & Media", "Academia", and "Science". When writing, remember that while interchangeable in some instances, alternatives such as "neglect to turn" or "refuse to turn" carry slightly different connotations that may be more appropriate depending on the intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

neglect to turn

Emphasizes a lack of attention or responsibility in not turning.

omit to turn

Highlights the act of leaving out the turning action.

miss turning

Focuses on missing the opportunity or point of turning.

avoid to turn

Implies a conscious effort to not turn.

refuse to turn

Indicates a deliberate unwillingness to turn.

cannot turn

Suggests an inability to physically or mechanically turn.

prove unable to turn

Formally states the incapability of turning.

fall short of turning

Highlights the lack of success in achieving a turn.

decline to turn

Suggests a polite or formal refusal to turn.

break down before turning

Emphasizes a failure occurring before the turn could happen.

FAQs

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

Use "fail to turn" to describe a situation where something or someone does not complete an expected rotation or change in direction. For example, "The vehicle "failed to turn" at the junction, causing a traffic delay."

What are some alternatives to "fail to turn"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "neglect to turn", "omit to turn", or "refuse to turn".

Is it better to say "fails to turn" or "failed to turn"?

The choice between "fails to turn" and "failed to turn" depends on the tense of your sentence. Use "fails to turn" for present tense and "failed to turn" for past tense.

What is the difference between "fail to turn" and "refuse to turn"?

"Fail to turn" generally implies an inability or omission, while "refuse to turn" suggests a deliberate choice not to turn.