failed to do something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to do something" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone's failure or inability to complete an action or task. Example: Despite his best efforts, John failed to submit his project on time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

"Looking at it out of context, people believe the agency failed to do something.

The New York Times

Guilt is the discomfort that comes from recognizing that you've done something wrong, or failed to do something right.

The New Yorker

Most disheartening is that coaches and university and student athletic leaders failed to do something about it.

The New York Times

This injustice has been causing misery for years, and successive governments have failed to do something about it.

The Guardian - Money

"It's very hard," he said, "even if your evidence is not ambiguous, to sell to a jury that they need to do something that you failed to do something about for years".

The New York Times

In fact, they pointed out, the department's federal-loan agreements with students go as far as to spell this out, if in fine print: "In some cases, you may assert, as a defense against collection of your loan, that the school did something wrong or failed to do something that it should have done".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Another argued that failing should be seen as "not what you do wrong but if you fail to do something right" but conceded that this was harder to measure.

The Guardian

Ranallo sounded too glib, but there was something transfixing (and, of course, sad) about watching Márquez fail to do something he probably never should have tried.

The New Yorker

Looking back across the centuries, it is hard to conceive of a world in which newspapers operating in a competitive market could fail to do something so obvious.

The Guardian - Books

The app is excellent when it comes to listing destinations, but it fails to do something that should be quite simple: namely, to indicate when the sites it lists are open.

The New York Times

Did they carry out their duties to an adequate standard or did they fail to do something that was necessary in the situation in line with their professional role?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failed to do something", ensure the context clearly indicates what action was expected or required.

Common error

Avoid using "failed to do something" without specifying what was not done. Be explicit to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to do something" functions as a verb phrase expressing a lack of action or the non-completion of an expected task. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

29%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "failed to do something" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the lack of an action. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is widely used across news, scientific, and general contexts, carrying a neutral tone. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly specify the action that was not performed to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "neglected to act" or "omitted to perform" can add specific nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

neglected to act

Emphasizes a careless oversight or lack of attention.

omitted to perform

Suggests a deliberate choice not to carry out a task.

did not accomplish

Focuses on the lack of achievement, rather than the failure to act.

fell short of completing

Highlights the unfulfilled nature of an endeavor.

missed the opportunity to

Stresses the loss of a chance to act.

did not undertake

Focuses on the lack of initiative.

proved unable to execute

Highlights a lack of capability.

defaulted on

Implies a failure to fulfill an obligation or expectation.

shirked the responsibility to

Suggests an avoidance of duty.

reneged on

Implies a broken promise to act.

FAQs

How can I use "failed to do something" in a sentence?

You can use "failed to do something" to indicate a lack of action or achievement. For example, "The government "failed to address" the issue of poverty effectively".

What's the difference between "failed to do something" and "didn't do something"?

"Failed to do something" often implies a responsibility or expectation that was unmet, while "didn't do something" is a more neutral statement of fact. For example, you might say someone "failed to show up" if they were expected, but simply "didn't show up" if there was no specific expectation.

What can I say instead of "failed to do something"?

Alternatives include "neglected to act", "omitted to perform", or "did not accomplish", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "failed to do" or "failed in doing"?

"Failed to do something" is generally preferred and more common than "failed in doing something". The former is more direct and concise.