failed to accomplish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to accomplish" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an inability to achieve a specific goal or task. Example: "Despite their best efforts, the team failed to accomplish their project objectives by the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In three hours at work, you could get something substantial accomplished, and if you failed to accomplish it you felt the pain right away.

The New Yorker

Even more than Higginson's campaign, John Brown's raid failed to accomplish its immediate aims.

The New York Times

Since then, Obama has failed to accomplish almost anything in Congress.

The New Yorker

Since the coup, other proposed changes have failed to accomplish much.

The New Yorker

He also lamented what the Nashville summit meeting seven years ago failed to accomplish.

The New York Times - Arts

"It's a clear admission that the surge has failed to accomplish its goals".

The New York Times

"Not winning any majors would mean that I failed to accomplish something I wanted.

The New York Times - Sports

In the past, these pressure tactics often failed to accomplish their desired results.

The Guardian - Opinion

How? FDR shifted the debate from what he failed to accomplish to the irresponsibility of his opponents.

University of California, Berkeley

There is only one thing the Knicks have failed to accomplish this season: beat the Chicago Bulls.

The New York Times - Sports

On Thursday, the Zags did what the best teams in college basketball have failed to accomplish throughout this season.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger verbs to replace "failed to accomplish" when conveying a stronger sense of failure. For example, "botched", "squandered", or "ruined" might be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you want to express.

Common error

Avoid using "failed to accomplish" when a simpler negative form of the verb is sufficient. For example, instead of "The team failed to accomplish the project goals successfully", write "The team did not achieve the project goals".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to accomplish" functions as a verb phrase indicating a lack of success in achieving a particular goal or objective. Ludwig AI confirms this use cases through its numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failed to accomplish" is a versatile phrase used to express the lack of success in achieving a specific goal. Ludwig confirms its common usage across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and general writing. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, it's important to consider the context and choose the most appropriate alternative when a more specific or nuanced expression is needed. Understanding common errors, such as redundancy, can further enhance the clarity and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not achieve

Replaces "failed to" with a more direct negative, slightly more formal.

did not succeed in

Emphasizes the lack of success, adding a prepositional phrase for clarity.

was unable to achieve

Focuses on the inability to perform the action, introducing a degree of difficulty.

fell short of

Implies a target or expectation that wasn't met, less direct.

did not attain

A more formal synonym for "achieve", suitable for academic or professional contexts.

proved unsuccessful in

Highlights the lack of success after an attempt, more descriptive.

was unsuccessful at

Similar to "proved unsuccessful", but shorter and slightly less formal.

could not manage to

Emphasizes the difficulty in achieving the goal, suggesting effort was involved.

missed the mark

An idiomatic expression indicating a failure to reach a specific target or goal, less formal.

came up short

Another idiomatic expression, indicating a failure to achieve a desired outcome or result, less formal.

FAQs

How can I use "failed to accomplish" in a sentence?

You can use "failed to accomplish" to indicate that someone or something was unable to achieve a particular goal. For example, "Despite their efforts, they "failed to accomplish" their mission".

What are some alternatives to "failed to accomplish"?

Some alternatives include "did not achieve", "was unable to complete", or "fell short of", depending on the specific context.

Is "failed to accomplish" formal or informal?

"Failed to accomplish" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal writing, though more direct alternatives might be preferred in very casual contexts.

What's the difference between "failed to accomplish" and "failed to complete"?

While both indicate a lack of success, ""failed to accomplish"" implies a broader objective or goal was not achieved, whereas "failed to complete" suggests a specific task or process was left unfinished.