failed to capitalize

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to capitalize" is correct and usable in written English.
It means that someone or something did not take advantage of a situation or missed an opportunity. Example: Despite having a talented team, the company failed to capitalize on the growing demand for their product and ended up losing market share to their competitors.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the Capitals failed to capitalize.

The Washington Post

The Capitals also failed to capitalize on their many opportunities.

The Washington Post

He was successful twice, but the Yankees failed to capitalize.

The New York Times - Sports

At another, she failed to capitalize on match point.

The New York Times - Sports

Per usual, United failed to capitalize on early opportunities.

The Washington Post

Finally, Republicans failed to capitalize on Obamacare's own embarrassing launch.

The Washington Post

However, existing pattern recognition method failed to capitalize on the nature of multivariate associations between the extracted fault features.

Measurement

The one place you have failed to capitalize on that is our national defense.

The New York Times

On offense, the Giants failed to capitalize when they were in position to do so.

The New York Times - Sports

The offense failed to capitalize with the bases loaded in three innings.

The New York Times - Sports

So why have the city's most promising start-ups failed to capitalize on it?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failed to capitalize", clearly state what was not capitalized upon. This provides context and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid phrasing like "The opportunity was failed to be capitalized on." Instead, use the active voice: "The team failed to capitalize on the opportunity."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to capitalize" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the lack of action to take advantage of a situation. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is appropriate for use in the written English language.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

29%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Science

7%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failed to capitalize" is a grammatically correct and widely used verb phrase that describes a missed opportunity or the inability to take advantage of a situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is considered correct in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media, formal business writing, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, clarity is key: explicitly state what was not capitalized upon to maximize impact. Avoid passive voice constructions for a stronger, more direct statement. Consider alternatives like "missed the boat" or "did not leverage" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to exploit

Indicates not making sufficient use of a resource or opportunity.

lost an opportunity

Focuses on the loss of a specific chance or occasion.

passed up a chance

Indicates a deliberate decision not to seize an opportunity.

did not leverage

Implies a failure to use an advantage or resource effectively.

neglected to exploit

Suggests a conscious oversight in taking advantage of something.

squandered an opportunity

Conveys a sense of wastefulness in missing a chance.

missed the boat

Emphasizes a lost opportunity that is now unavailable.

fumbled the chance

Implies clumsiness or lack of skill in missing an opportunity.

dropped the ball

Highlights a failure to perform or execute effectively.

left money on the table

Specifically refers to failing to gain potential profits or benefits.

FAQs

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

Use "failed to capitalize" to indicate a missed opportunity or inability to take advantage of a situation. For example: "The company "failed to capitalize" on the new technology."

What are some alternatives to "failed to capitalize"?

You can use alternatives like "missed the boat", "lost an opportunity", or "did not leverage" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "failed at capitalizing" instead of "failed to capitalize"?

While grammatically understandable, "failed at capitalizing" is less common and idiomatic than ""failed to capitalize"". The latter is generally preferred.

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

"Failed to capitalize" often implies a stronger sense of missed potential or a more significant lost opportunity than the more neutral phrase "did not capitalize".