failed to discover

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to discover" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone or something did not succeed in finding or uncovering information or a fact. Example: "The researchers failed to discover a cure for the disease despite years of study."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

They failed to discover sufficient oil & gas & huge debts resulted.

The New Yorker

Brooke, having failed to discover stimulation in her native New England, now discovers it in Jagat.

The New York Times

According to a recent government court filing, the robbers "failed to discover" approximately $60,000 in the post office.

The New York Times

Clearly, he's failed to discover the true purpose of Twitter: the joy in playing games like #BookTitlesGoneBad.

The New York Times

For an entire year, despite tireless efforts, I repeatedly failed to discover anything about my mysterious neighbor.

The New York Times

"The mitigating evidence counsel failed to discover and present in this case is powerful," Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote.

The New York Times

It is not "weird" that journalists at the time failed to discover the story, as Geldof asserts.

The Guardian - Opinion

An article about how her publisher, and the newspaper, failed to discover the truth earlier appears today in The Arts.

The New York Times

Global appeals,collaboration with foreign embassies and a feature on the BBC's Crimewatch failed to discover her identity.

The Guardian

"If authorities have failed to discover any of this misconduct that I am claimed to have committed in active duty, then all is incomprehensible".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Even after an exhaustive search using BLAST, we failed to discover any atp8-like protein sequence.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the context clearly indicates what was expected to be discovered. Ambiguity can weaken the impact of the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "failed to discover" when the expected discovery was unlikely or not particularly important. Using a weaker phrase like "did not find" may be more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to discover" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the absence of a successful discovery. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase follows standard grammar rules. The examples show it used in various contexts, implying a lack of finding or uncovering something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "failed to discover" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate the absence of a successful discovery. As Ludwig AI suggests, its meaning is clear and its usage is widespread in various domains, especially in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts. While alternatives like "did not find" or "were unable to uncover" exist, "failed to discover" often implies a degree of expectedness or effort in the search. When writing, make sure the context clearly specifies what was expected to be discovered and choose alternatives to more precisely express subtle differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not find

Replaces "failed to" with a more straightforward negative, emphasizing the absence of finding.

were unable to uncover

Focuses on the inability to reveal something hidden, suggesting a lack of success in investigation.

did not detect

Implies a failure in perceiving or sensing something, often used in technical or scientific contexts.

missed

A more concise way of saying something was not noticed or found.

overlooked

Suggests something was present but not seen or considered, indicating negligence or oversight.

did not ascertain

Focuses on the lack of confirmation or establishment of a fact or truth.

remained unaware of

Highlights a lack of knowledge or consciousness about something.

did not turn up

Emphasizes that a search or investigation did not yield the expected results.

were unsuccessful in finding

Highlights the lack of success in an active attempt to locate something.

did not come across

Implies a failure to encounter something unexpectedly or by chance.

FAQs

What does "failed to discover" mean?

The phrase "failed to discover" means that someone or something was unable to find or uncover something, whether it be information, an object, or a solution.

What are some alternatives to "failed to discover"?

You can use alternatives such as "did not find", "were unable to uncover", or "did not detect" depending on the context.

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

Both "failed to discover" and "did not discover" are grammatically correct. "Failed to discover" can sometimes imply a stronger expectation or effort to find something, while "did not discover" is a more neutral statement.

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

You can use "failed to discover" in a sentence like, "The researchers "failed to unveil" any new evidence during their investigation."