failed to attach

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to attach" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something was not successfully included or connected, often in the context of emails or documents. Example: "I apologize for the oversight; I failed to attach the report to my previous email."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

This indicates misaligned chromosomes in GAK-depleted cells have either failed to attach to microtubules or are unable to maintain microtubule attachments, but alignment defects are unlikely due to a failure to release incorrectly attached microtubules.

Chromosoma

In five of the matters, documents show, the firm used inaccurate information about defaults or failed to attach proper documentation when it moved to seize borrowers' homes.

The New York Times

Earlier this year, the Democrats failed to attach a timetable for withdrawal to the president's demand for more money because they lacked the support of defectors.

The Economist

During the day, the minority caucuses in both houses tried, and failed, to attach more than a dozen amendments to the budget bills that were being debated.

The New York Times

He died as he fell from the moving truck to which he had failed to attach himself securely close to the Tunnel entrance at Coquelles.

Independent

However, as Phillips notes, a precedent has been set – since the 2012 election, the debt limit has been increased twice and each time Republicans have failed to attach substantial policy provisions to the increases.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

The roles of oolemmal lipid raft microdomains enriched in the ganglioside GM1 and the tetraspanin protein CD9 were investigated as causative agents in fertilization failure in human IVF where spermatozoa progress to the oolemma but fail to attach or, if attached, to penetrate.

Reproductive BioMedicine Online

Quinean criteria, however, by focusing only on the values of the (individual) variables, have been accused of being ontologically biased against realism about properties or universals because they fail to attach ontological significance to the predicate.[22] Consider '∃x Swims(x)'.

SEP

It is possible that in the absence of dystrophin, syntrophin fails to attach to the sarcolemma but is not destroyed.

Plosone

For strain II-3, which fails to attach to plastic (15), cell suspensions were collected by centrifugation and likewise washed 3X.

Plosone

Baumer et al. also report that in their mutants the endocardium fails to attach to the myocardium, eventually leading to trabeculation defects; furthermore, they observed failure of intersomitic vessel development.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To ensure clarity, specify what "failed to attach" to what. For example, instead of saying "The document failed to attach", say "The document failed to attach to the email".

Common error

While "failed to attach" is grammatically correct, avoid using it excessively in informal settings. Alternatives like "didn't include" or "forgot to attach" may sound more natural in casual conversations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to attach" functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate of a sentence. It indicates an unsuccessful action of connecting or including something. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

58%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "failed to attach" is a grammatically correct and usable verb phrase indicating an unsuccessful attempt to connect or include something. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread use. While common in scientific and news contexts, it's also appropriate for general use. For alternatives, consider options like "did not attach" or "was unable to attach" for nuanced meanings. Ensure clarity by specifying what "failed to attach" to what, and avoid overuse in excessively informal settings for better tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not attach

Replaces "failed" with a more direct negative form. It is a more neutral way of expressing the lack of attachment.

was unable to attach

Indicates a lack of ability rather than a complete failure. Suggests external factors might have prevented attachment.

did not connect

Emphasizes the lack of connection or link between two elements. Useful when describing a process or system.

did not affix

A more formal term to denote not securely fastening something.

neglected to attach

Suggests an oversight or omission in the act of attaching.

omitted to attach

Highlights the act of leaving something out. Focuses on the absence of attachment through omission.

forgot to attach

Emphasizes forgetfulness as the reason for not attaching.

did not include

Highlights the absence of something that should have been attached or included. Focuses on inclusion rather than connection.

was unsuccessful in attaching

Formal way to say that an effort was made but it didn't succeed.

could not be attached

Focuses on the impossibility of attachment due to some inherent limitation.

FAQs

What does "failed to attach" mean?

The phrase "failed to attach" means that something was not successfully connected, included, or linked to something else. It implies an unsuccessful attempt to join or include an item.

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

You can use "failed to attach" to describe scenarios where an attempt to connect or include something was unsuccessful. For instance, "The file "failed to attach" to the email", or "The component "failed to attach" to the main structure".

What are some alternatives to "failed to attach"?

Some alternatives to "failed to attach" include "did not attach", "was unable to attach", or "forgot to attach", depending on the context. These alternatives can provide nuanced meanings.

Is it better to say "failed to attach" or "did not attach"?

Both "failed to attach" and "did not attach" are correct, but "failed to attach" implies an attempt was made, whereas "did not attach" is a more neutral statement, simply stating something was not attached, with no implication of effort.