failed to embody

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to embody" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that did not represent or express a particular quality, idea, or characteristic as intended. Example: "The final product failed to embody the innovative spirit that the team had envisioned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Evangelicals have lost influence not because the culture has become secularized, but because evangelicals have failed to embody the life and teachings of Jesus.

Huffington Post

She believed that "Artpop" failed to embody the concept of the album and was plagued with the same inconsequential lyrics that was visible during her Born This Way era.

Wikipedia

Reviews were uniformly critical, lamenting that Nureyev failed to embody the character, "a King who stands around like a sulky teenager who didn't ask to be invited to this party..

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

In Hoover's novel, the alternating narrators, Enidina and Mary, fail to embody that same authenticity.

The New York Times - Books

Though showing great sensitivity to environmental or sociological evils, such works fail to embody the high conception of character (as Melville describes it above) and are concerned mainly with externals, or reportage.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It is sometimes asserted that the simple fact that the metric field (or the connection it determines) distinguishes, at every location, motions that are 'absolutely' accelerated and/or 'absolutely rotating' from those that are not, by itself entails that GTR fails to embody a folk-Leibniz style general relativity of motion (e.g. Earman (1989), ch.

SEP

While I remain in awe of what the Bernie Sanders campaign has accomplished in the past year, even Bernie has not articulated, and fails to embody, the fullness of the revolution that has propelled his candidacy beyond all expectation.

Huffington Post

"If an extractive company refuses to take part in the mechanisms available to resolve a dispute under our strengthened and enhanced CSR [Corporate Social Responsibility] Strategy, or fails to embody CSR best practices, they will no longer benefit from the support of our economic diplomacy and services provided by the Government of Canada and its Trade Commissioner Service,"Fast said in Vancouver.

Vice

It will fail to be a profession that embodies gender equality — what many thought the O'Connor selection promised to bring.

The New York Times

"National governments have largely failed to act, while cities embody the spirit of innovation we need.

The Guardian

If, on the other hand, you have ambitions for large-scale change and believe things could be significantly better for vast numbers of people, you will always fail fully to embody your own hopes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failed to embody", ensure that the subject and the quality it failed to embody are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The policy failed to embody the principles of fairness and equality."

Common error

Avoid using "failed to embody" in overly abstract contexts where the meaning becomes vague. Ground the phrase in concrete examples to illustrate the failure of representation. For example, instead of saying "The project failed to embody innovation", specify what aspects of innovation were missing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to embody" functions as a verb phrase indicating a lack of representation or expression of a particular quality or characteristic. As Ludwig AI shows, it's used when something does not successfully represent a given concept or principle.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failed to embody" is a phrase used to express a lack of representation or expression of a particular quality or characteristic. Ludwig AI analysis reveals that it's grammatically correct and most commonly found in News & Media. While not exceedingly common, its usage is appropriate across different contexts. When using this phrase, clarity is key, and it's important to specify what the subject failed to represent. Alternatives like "did not represent" or "did not capture" can offer similar meanings with slight variations in nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not represent

Replaces "embody" with a more direct synonym, focusing on representation.

did not capture

Emphasizes the lack of successfully expressing or conveying something.

failed to reflect

Highlights the absence of a mirrored or accurate representation.

did not exemplify

Focuses on the lack of serving as a typical example or model.

fell short of expressing

Indicates a deficiency in conveying a particular quality or idea.

failed to manifest

Highlights the absence of outward or tangible expression.

did not embody the spirit of

Adds specificity by referring to the spirit or essence of something.

failed to encapsulate

Emphasizes a lack of completeness in representing or summarizing.

was not representative of

Focuses on the lack of typical or accurate portrayal.

failed to realize

Emphasizes that something didn't achieve the desired purpose or characteristic

FAQs

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

Use "failed to embody" to describe something that did not represent or express a specific quality or characteristic. For instance, "The new law "failed to embody" the principles of justice."

What are some alternatives to saying "failed to embody"?

You can use alternatives like "did not represent", "did not capture", or "failed to reflect" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

"Failed to embody" emphasizes a lack of success in representing something, while "did not embody" is a more neutral statement. The best choice depends on whether you want to highlight the failure or simply state the absence of representation.

How does "failed to embody" differ from "failed to capture"?

"Failed to embody" suggests a lack of inherent representation, whereas "failed to capture" implies a lack of successfully expressing something. The distinction lies in whether the failure is in the essence or in the expression.