failed to be

USAGE SUMMARY

"failed to be" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is commonly used to describe something that was tried, but ultimately unsuccessful. For example, "The company failed to be profitable this quarter, despite their cost-cutting efforts."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The charges, however, failed to be substantiated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The ghost failed to be frightening.

The Guardian - Books

They have failed to be culturally aware.

The Guardian - Arts

And where Sagna failed to be, Lewandowski made his volley.

The New York Times - Sports

His loathed Germans never failed to be at least human.

The New York Times - Arts

If anything, our press has failed to be critical enough.

The New York Times

We failed to be sufficiently afraid of the alternative.

The New York Times - Magazine

*, HBB site failed to be amplified by PCR.

Protein & Cell

Therefore, these bands failed to be distinguished from one another.

Journal of Analytical Science and Technology

As a result, the watermark is failed to be detected.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

In general, 7 iterations failed to be properly recognized.

Sensing and Bio-Sensing Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failed to be", ensure that the sentence clearly indicates what attempt was made and why it was unsuccessful. This adds clarity and context to your writing.

Common error

Avoid stringing together multiple clauses with "failed to be", which can make your writing convoluted. Break down complex sentences into simpler ones for better readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to be" functions as a copular verb construction, linking a subject to a state or characteristic that it did not achieve. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "failed to be" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote the lack of success in achieving a particular state or condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears across a range of contexts, particularly in scientific and news-related content. To improve your writing, ensure that sentences using "failed to be" clearly articulate what effort was made and why it was unsuccessful and avoid overuse in overly complex sentence constructions. While it carries a negative connotation, its straightforward nature makes it appropriate for both formal and informal communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not manage to be

Replaces "failed" with a more descriptive phrase indicating a lack of success in achieving a state.

did not succeed in being

Emphasizes the lack of success in attaining a specific characteristic or state.

proved unable to be

Highlights the inability to reach a certain state or condition, adding a sense of demonstration.

was unsuccessful in being

Focuses on the lack of success in achieving a particular state, using a more formal tone.

fell short of being

Indicates that the subject did not reach the required level or standard.

turned out not to be

Indicates that the final result was different from what was expected or intended.

was deficient in being

Highlights a lack of necessary qualities or characteristics.

did not become

A shorter alternative that directly expresses the absence of a transformation.

could not be considered

Shifts the focus to the inability to regard something as having a certain quality.

never achieved being

Emphasizes that the subject did not ever reach the required state.

FAQs

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

Use "failed to be" to describe an attempt that did not achieve the intended outcome, such as, "The project "failed to be" completed on time due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "failed to be"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "did not become", "proved unable to be", or "was unsuccessful in being" for /s/variety depending on the context.

Is it always negative to say something "failed to be"?

Yes, "failed to be" inherently implies a negative outcome, indicating a lack of success or achievement. Ensure this aligns with your intended meaning.

What's the difference between "failed to be" and "did not try to be"?

"Failed to be" implies an attempt was made but was unsuccessful, while "did not try to be" indicates that no attempt was ever made. The former suggests effort, the latter suggests a lack of initiative.