failed to complete

USAGE SUMMARY

'failed to complete' is correct and usable in written English.
You would use it to indicate that someone did not finish something or was unsuccessful in completing something. For example, "I failed to complete my essay on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This procedure led to very high completion rates: few students failed to complete our questionnaires.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

However, you failed to complete the argument.

The Economist

— and failed to complete it.

The New Yorker

Only once has he failed to complete.

The Guardian - Sport

He failed to complete the course, the officials said.

The New York Times

If players failed to complete it, they would try again.

The New York Times - Sports

He had also failed to complete three treatment programs.

Independent

An estimated 3m people failed to complete the 2001 census.

The Economist

He paused, shrugged, and failed to complete the sentence.

The New York Times

But it failed to complete the work on time.

The New York Times

Mackenzie also failed to complete the Pacific railway.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific task or project, use "failed to complete" to clearly indicate that the task was not finished. For example, "The team failed to complete the project within the given timeframe."

Common error

Avoid using "incomplete" as a direct substitute for "failed to complete" in all contexts. "Incomplete" describes the state of something, while "failed to complete" describes the action of not finishing it. For example, say "The student failed to complete the assignment" rather than "The student's assignment was failed to complete".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to complete" functions as a verb phrase indicating the non-fulfillment or unsuccessful termination of an action or task. As shown by Ludwig, it's commonly used to describe situations where an expected outcome was not achieved.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failed to complete" is a versatile and widely used phrase that clearly communicates the non-completion of a task or process. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical correctness and broad applicability make it suitable for various contexts, ranging from news reports to scientific publications. While alternatives exist, understanding the specific nuance you wish to convey is crucial for choosing the best phrasing. Be mindful of common errors, such as confusing it with "incomplete", which describes a state rather than an action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not finish

This alternative is a straightforward substitution, replacing "failed to complete" with simpler vocabulary.

left unfinished

This emphasizes the state of the task being incomplete rather than the act of failing.

was unable to conclude

This is a more formal alternative, suitable for academic or professional contexts, focusing on the inability to reach a conclusion.

fell short of completion

This phrase highlights the idea that the attempt was made, but the goal was not fully achieved.

did not accomplish

This focuses on the lack of achievement, rather than the process of completing a task.

abandoned midway

This suggests that the attempt was started but stopped before reaching the end, implying a deliberate cessation.

discontinued prematurely

This indicates that the activity ceased earlier than planned or expected.

neglected to finalize

This implies that a final step or stage was omitted, leading to incompleteness.

could not execute fully

This focuses on the inability to perform all the necessary steps or actions for successful completion.

stopped before the end

This phrase is a more literal way of saying that something was not completed.

FAQs

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

You can use "failed to complete" to indicate that someone or something did not finish a task or process. For example, "The student "failed to complete" the assignment", or "The software "failed to complete" the installation process".

What are some alternatives to "failed to complete"?

Some alternatives to "failed to complete" include "did not finish", "left unfinished", or "was unable to conclude", depending on the specific context.

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

Both "failed to complete" and "did not complete" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "Failed to complete" can sometimes imply a stronger sense of inability or unsuccessful effort, while "did not complete" is more neutral.

What is the difference between "failed to complete" and "incomplete"?

"Failed to complete" describes the act of not finishing something, while "incomplete" describes the state of something being unfinished. For example, "The project was incomplete because the team "failed to complete" the final stage".