failed initiative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed initiative" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a project, plan, or effort that did not succeed or achieve its intended goals. Example: "The company's recent marketing campaign was a failed initiative that did not resonate with the target audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Many in the region said Washington is maintaining a safe distance to protect against the risks of a failed initiative.

The New York Times

Those who question the wisdom of reinvigorating efforts for a peace process cite former President Andres Pastrana's failed initiative 10 years ago.

The New York Times

According to De Piero, the figures show the Lib Dems' new policy is a desperate attempt to cover up a failed initiative.

The Guardian - Money

Mr. Hershberg, whose 900-page book on the affair was based on documents, interviews and many hours of conversation with Mr. Lewandowski in a hotel bar in Warsaw, said in an interview that in the end the failed initiative might have hurt peace prospects by raising hopes only to dash them.

The New York Times

Mr. Lynch's departure was part of a series of sweeping changes the company announced as it tries to regain its footing after a failed initiative to build up its Nook division and compete in the increasingly crowded market for e-readers.

The New York Times

DealBook » Chief of Barnes & Noble Resigns After Losses on E-Readers  |  The departure of William Lynch Jr., the chief executive of Barnes & Noble, "was part of a series of sweeping changes the company announced as it tries to regain its footing after a failed initiative to build up its Nook division and compete in the increasingly crowded market for e-readers," The New York Times writes.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The rapid growth was accompanied by a soap opera of broken friendships, lawsuits, changes of ownership, and failed initiatives.

The New Yorker

The international envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, has criticised Assad's defiant speech on Sunday saying his proposals to end the crisis were no better than previous failed initiatives.

The Guardian

Updated at 3.33pm GMT 3.13pm GMT Brahimi dismisses Assad's speech The international envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi has criticised Assad's defiant speech on Sunday saying his proposals to end the crisis were no better than previous failed initiatives.

The Guardian

Thus far Mr Zoellick's plan seems to have found few takers, and it joins all the other failed initiatives to deal with the outstanding "global imbalances" since long before the G20 was invented as a wider, more relevant version of the old "rich man's club" of the G7/G8.

Independent

The concepts of fit and alignment are not new in business literature, yet the record of change – the many failed initiatives most organizations embark on in an attempt to improve their performance – suggests that many managers do not know how to lead systemic and fundamental change.

Long Range Planning

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failed initiative", ensure the context clearly defines what the initiative was intended to achieve. This provides clarity on why it is considered a failure.

Common error

Avoid using "failed initiative" as a generic term for any unsuccessful attempt. Instead, specify the type of initiative and, if possible, the reasons for its failure to provide a more informative and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed initiative" functions as a noun phrase where "failed" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "initiative". It describes a specific project, plan, or undertaking that did not achieve its intended outcome. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failed initiative" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to describe a project or plan that did not achieve its intended goals. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's often used in news, formal, and scientific contexts. While the phrase itself is straightforward, it's important to provide context about the specific initiative and reasons for its failure to give your writing more clarity and impact. Alternatives such as "unsuccessful project" or "abortive attempt" may be used for semantic variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsuccessful project

Focuses on the lack of success of a specific project.

abortive attempt

Emphasizes an attempt that was cut short or proved fruitless.

fruitless endeavor

Highlights the lack of positive results from an effort.

botched undertaking

Suggests that the effort was poorly managed, leading to failure.

unrealized plan

Focuses on a plan that was never brought to fruition.

collapsed scheme

Implies a structured plan that fell apart.

miscarried effort

Suggests an effort that went wrong, like a miscarriage.

floundering venture

Highlights a venture struggling and ultimately failing.

doomed enterprise

Implies that the enterprise was destined to fail from the beginning.

non-starter proposal

Indicates that the proposal was never viable or practical.

FAQs

How can I use "failed initiative" in a sentence?

You can use "failed initiative" to describe a project, plan, or strategy that did not achieve its intended goals. For instance, "The company's marketing campaign was a "failed initiative" that did not resonate with the target audience."

What are some alternatives to saying "failed initiative"?

You can use alternatives like "unsuccessful project", "fruitless endeavor", or "abortive attempt" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "failed initiative" or "unsuccessful initiative"?

Both "failed initiative" and "unsuccessful initiative" are acceptable, but "failed initiative" might carry a slightly stronger connotation of complete lack of success. The choice depends on the nuance you wish to convey.

What caused President Bush's faith-based initiative to fail?

According to DiIulio, Bush's faith-based "initiative failed" because the White House lost the argument regarding its desirability.