fail with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fail with" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe an action or attempt that does not succeed or is not successful in achieving a desired outcome. Example 1: The student failed with his math assignment despite studying for hours. Example 2: The company's new product failed with consumers due to its high price. Example 3: I tried to fix the leaky faucet, but I failed with the tools I had available. Example 4: The team failed with their game plan and lost the championship. Example 5: She failed with her attempt to make the perfect souffle.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It can't fail with that backdrop.

The Guardian - Music

Five of the six fail with me.

The Washington Post

So when I fail with a hire, that's the dimension I fail with.

The New York Times

How could you fail with something called "Zoysia"?

The Washington Post

> > > > settings before startup and fail with appropriate error message.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Brown will not fail with a chance like that".

The Guardian - Books

Her recipes are almost impossible to fail with.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

No doubt they'll fail with many – while pleasing many others.

The Guardian - Tech

I have never seen a player fail with more dignity.

The New York Times - Sports

How can they fail, with such wonderful lines?

The Guardian - Film

Let us fail with pride, because failure is really success.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fail with", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is failing in relation to. For example, "The experiment failed with the initial set of parameters" provides clear context.

Common error

In highly formal or professional writing, consider stronger, more precise synonyms like "prove ineffective", "fall short", or "be unsuccessful" to convey a greater degree of nuance and sophistication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fail with" primarily functions as a verb phrase followed by a preposition, indicating a lack of success or effectiveness in relation to something. It suggests that an attempt or action did not achieve the desired outcome. As Ludwig indicates, this phrase is used correctly.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

31%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fail with" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig. It describes a lack of success in relation to a specific object or context. While the phrase is considered correct and very common, it’s important to choose synonyms in highly formal settings to enhance the sophistication of your writing. The phrase appears most often in "News & Media", "Science", and "Academia", indicating its broad applicability. When employing "fail with", ensure the sentence clearly identifies what the subject is failing in relation to, avoiding ambiguity and ensuring effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be unsuccessful with

Replaces "fail" with a more formal synonym and maintains the preposition "with".

not succeed with

Uses a negative construction to express the lack of success.

fall short with

Highlights the failure to reach a desired standard or goal.

prove ineffective with

Focuses on the lack of effectiveness, a specific type of failure.

come to naught with

Employs a more literary expression indicating that efforts were fruitless.

meet with failure in

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize the encounter with failure.

be defeated by

Indicates a loss or failure due to an external force.

be doomed with

Implies a predetermined or inevitable failure.

be lacking in

Shifts the focus to a deficiency or absence of a required quality.

prove abortive with

Highlights the project failure to come to completion.

FAQs

How can I use "fail with" in a sentence?

Use "fail with" to describe an unsuccessful attempt or outcome, such as "The marketing campaign failed with the target audience" or "He failed with his attempt to repair the engine."

What are some alternatives to "fail with"?

You can use alternatives such as "be unsuccessful with", "not succeed with", or "fall short with" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "failed with" instead of "fail with"?

Yes, "failed with" is the past tense form of "fail with" and is correct when referring to a past event. For example, "The project failed with the original team."

What's the difference between "fail at" and "fail with"?

"Fail at" generally refers to failing in an activity or task, while "fail with" refers to failing in relation to something specific. For example, you "fail at" a test, but you "fail with" a strategy.