failed at all

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed at all" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that there was a complete lack of success in a particular endeavor or situation. Example: "Despite all the effort put into the project, we failed at all to meet the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Although I rarely miss a deadline, I have failed at all those other things that provide joy, renewal and validation.

Huffington Post

"It's good that it was limited to one tube failing, but it's bad that the tube failed at all," said David Lochbaum, a nuclear safety engineer with the Union of Concerned Scientists, in Washington.

The New York Times

This guy doesn't believe they failed at all.

The New York Times

"No I don't think he's failed at all".

Independent

As for the population, it hasn't failed at all.

The New York Times

"We support the Brahimi initiative, and we don't say it has failed at all".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

"Machine intelligence fails at all sorts of things that humans don't," said Nelson Morgan, who has led the group since its formation in 1988.

University of California, Berkeley

In an interview last night, Mr. Levy said that if the Edison proposal fails at all five schools, two will be closed and reopened with different students and teachers.

The New York Times

I don't like to fail at all.

TechCrunch

The idea here was that motion estimation typically fails in foreground regions (if it fails at all); so, this yielded a very conservative process.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Beyond that, Branson can't afford his pilots to fail again or fail better or fail forward or, frankly, fail at all.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "failed at all" to emphasize the complete lack of success in a specific attempt or endeavor. It underscores that no part of the effort achieved its goal. Make sure it matches the tone of your sentence.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "failed at all" can sound less sophisticated than alternatives like "completely failed" or "achieved no success", especially in formal writing. Consider your audience and the desired tone before using it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed at all" functions as a verb phrase indicating a complete lack of success or achievement in a particular endeavor. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. The examples in Ludwig showcase its use in various contexts to emphasize the thoroughness of the failure.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "failed at all" is a grammatically correct way to express a complete lack of success. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is most commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts and is suitable for neutral registers. While effective in conveying a strong sense of failure, consider using more formal alternatives like "completely failed" or "achieved no success" in appropriate settings. Be mindful of the context to ensure it aligns with the intended tone and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely failed

Emphasizes the thoroughness of the failure.

utterly failed

Highlights the extent and totality of the failure.

totally failed

Similar to 'completely failed', stressing the overall failure.

did not succeed at all

A more formal way of expressing the lack of success.

achieved no success

Focuses on the absence of any positive outcome.

was entirely unsuccessful

Highlights the overall lack of success in a more formal tone.

came to nothing

Implies that the effort or attempt resulted in no tangible outcome.

proved fruitless

Indicates that the effort did not produce the desired result.

fell flat

Suggests that the attempt was unsuccessful and unimpressive.

bombed completely

Informal expression for a total and embarrassing failure.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "failed at all" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "completely failed", "utterly failed", or "achieved no success".

Is there a difference between "failed at all" and "completely failed"?

While both phrases indicate a lack of success, "failed at all" emphasizes the totality of the failure, suggesting that no aspect of the attempt was successful. "Completely failed" simply stresses the thoroughness of the failure.

When is it appropriate to use "failed at all" in writing?

"Failed at all" is appropriate when you want to emphasize the complete and utter lack of success in an attempt or endeavor. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but consider the specific audience and desired tone.

What are some informal alternatives to "failed at all"?

Informal alternatives include phrases like "fell flat" or "bombed completely", which convey a sense of unsuccessful and unimpressive attempt.