failed to decide

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to decide" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone or something did not reach a conclusion or make a choice in a particular situation. Example: "The committee failed to decide on the new policy during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Vienna's morale has collapsed since the Moscow Conference failed to decide what to do with Austria.

The New Yorker

Justice Spargo's lawyer, David Kunz, said, "It's really unfortunate that the court failed to decide this case on the merits".

The New York Times

In a recent report, India's comptroller and auditor general found that the army had failed to decide on what features it wanted in its artillery for four years.

The New York Times

In a hearing on Tuesday the court failed to decide if his case would be joined to that of the other four.

Independent

Local advisers told me that the court failed to decide any of the cases sent to it last year from Shah Wali Kot.

The New York Times

One man, Umar Islam, 31, was convicted of conspiracy to murder but the jury failed to decide whether he was involved with the airliner plot.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Sometimes we are so afraid of failing that we fail to decide and then we surely fail.

Huffington Post

But the peace process did not die, and it is unlikely to if Mr. Barak and Mr. Arafat fail to decide how to share Jerusalem.

The New York Times

However, it fails to decide the correctness of single PSMs.

BMC Genomics

France had originally stuck out for two resolutions: one to demand that Iraq disarm, and a second, if it failed to comply, to decide what should be done.It appears to have settled instead for a "two-stage" process.

The Economist

The problem isn't that this device failed to help me decide who was "lying" (so what, neither did Rashomon).

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "failed to decide" to convey a sense of inaction or inability, rather than a deliberate choice. If a deliberate choice was made to not decide, consider phrases like "refrained from deciding".

Common error

Avoid using "failed to decide" when the subject actively chose not to make a decision. Instead, use phrases like "chose not to decide" or "opted out of deciding" to reflect intentionality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to decide" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the inability or lack of action in making a determination or reaching a conclusion. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "failed to decide" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the lack of a decision or resolution. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and suggests it is most frequently found in News & Media. While it carries a neutral tone, it is important to use it accurately, especially when conveying intent, as choosing not to decide carries a different meaning. Consider alternatives such as "did not decide" or "was unable to decide" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not decide

Direct synonym, replacing "failed to" with its equivalent "did not".

was unable to decide

Emphasizes the inability to make a decision.

could not decide

Similar to "was unable to decide", highlighting the lack of capacity to make a decision.

did not come to a decision

Focuses on the absence of a final decision.

neglected to decide

Suggests an oversight or omission in making a decision.

omitted to decide

Similar to "neglected to decide", implying a failure to act.

refrained from deciding

Indicates a deliberate choice to not make a decision.

deferred a decision

Implies postponing or delaying the decision-making process.

did not determine

Replaces "decide" with "determine", focusing on the lack of a definitive finding.

left undecided

Highlights the state of something remaining without a decision.

FAQs

What does "failed to decide" mean?

The phrase "failed to decide" means that someone or something was unable to reach a conclusion or make a choice in a particular situation. It implies an inability or omission to make a determination.

What can I say instead of "failed to decide"?

You can use alternatives like "did not decide", "was unable to decide", or "could not decide" depending on the context.

Is "failed to decide" grammatically correct?

Yes, "failed to decide" is grammatically correct. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English and follows standard grammatical rules.

When is it appropriate to use "failed to decide"?

It is appropriate to use "failed to decide" when you want to indicate that someone or something did not reach a conclusion or make a choice, particularly when the situation required a decision. For example, you might say, "The committee "failed to decide" on the new policy."