fail to understand

USAGE SUMMARY

"fail to understand" is both correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to express that someone does not comprehend or grasp something. For example: "My students often fail to understand the concept of calculus."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I absolutely fail to understand her.

The Guardian - Arts

They may also fail to understand the impact of charges.

The Economist

"I still fail to understand the author, though!

The New York Times

I fail to understand what people mean by "bad" weather.

The New Yorker

But no professional mariner would fail to understand it.

The New Yorker

I fail to understand anyone who argues otherwise," she said.

Independent

What they fail to understand is their collective action issue.

The New York Times

We also fail to understand the Arab strategic reality.

The New York Times

And yours, I just fail to understand it.

The New York Times

To fail to understand as much is to fail to understand his singular sense of right and wrong.

The New York Times - Books

This is something that nationalists fail to understand, she says.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "fail to understand" with stronger or more precise verbs (e.g., "misinterpret", "overlook") to add nuance to your writing.

Common error

Avoid overuse in formal contexts; substitute with more sophisticated alternatives like "struggle to grasp" or "lack comprehension" to enhance the tone and impact of your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail to understand" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a lack of comprehension or inability to grasp a concept or idea. As supported by Ludwig, this phrase is commonly used across various contexts to express a deficiency in understanding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fail to understand" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to express a lack of comprehension. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely applicable in various contexts, particularly within news and media. While versatile, consider using synonyms like "lack comprehension" or "struggle to grasp" for nuanced expression and to avoid overuse in formal writing. Remember to clearly define what is not being understood for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot comprehend

Indicates an inability to understand.

lack comprehension

Focuses on the absence of understanding.

struggle to grasp

Emphasizes the difficulty in understanding.

be confused by

Focuses on the state of confusion resulting from a lack of understanding.

be unable to fathom

Highlights a deep lack of understanding, often regarding complex matters.

misinterpret

Highlights an incorrect interpretation or understanding.

miss the point

Focuses on failing to understand the central idea.

be oblivious to

Suggests a complete lack of awareness or understanding.

not get

A more informal way of saying you don't understand something.

not be aware of

Indicates a lack of knowledge or understanding about a specific thing.

FAQs

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

You can use "fail to understand" to express a lack of comprehension, as in, "I "fail to understand" why they made that decision".

What's the difference between "fail to understand" and "cannot comprehend"?

"Fail to understand" and "cannot comprehend" are similar, but "cannot comprehend" often implies a more complete inability to grasp something, while "fail to understand" can suggest a partial lack of understanding.

Which is correct, "fail to understand" or "failed to understand"?

Both "fail to understand" and "failed to understand" are grammatically correct. "Fail to understand" is present tense, while "failed to understand" is past tense.

What can I say instead of "fail to understand"?

You can use alternatives like "lack comprehension", "struggle to grasp", or "misinterpret" depending on the context.