failed to establish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to establish" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a lack of success in creating or proving something, such as a relationship, a fact, or a theory. Example: "The researchers failed to establish a clear link between the two variables in their study."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They failed to establish a forecheck.

The New York Times

However, studies failed to establish such a connection.

Harvard University

Defendants have likewise failed to establish the defense of laches.

Harvard University

Two postmortems failed to establish the cause of death.

The Guardian

They failed to establish an adequate security buffer.

The New York Times

He has also failed to establish the rule of law.

The Economist

They also failed to establish a base in New York.

The Economist

There the communist system had failed to establish legitimacy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Held: Respondent failed to establish a violation of the Fifth or Sixth Amendment.

Cornell University

A postmortem examination carried out on Monday failed to establish the cause of her death.

The Guardian - Music

A postmortem examination carried out on Monday failed to establish the cause of the singer's death.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failed to establish", ensure the context clearly indicates what was attempted and why the establishment was unsuccessful. This adds clarity and provides better insight for the reader.

Common error

While "failed to establish" is acceptable, overuse in formal writing can make your text sound repetitive. Vary your language with synonyms like "did not succeed in establishing" or "was unable to demonstrate" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to establish" functions as a verb phrase indicating a lack of success in creating, proving, or initiating something. As shown in Ludwig, it often appears in contexts where an attempt to demonstrate or set up a connection or system has been unsuccessful.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

17%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failed to establish" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate a lack of success in creating, proving, or setting up something. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is used in various contexts, ranging from news and media to academic and scientific writing, as well as encyclopedias. While acceptable across various registers, diversifying your vocabulary with synonyms like "did not succeed in establishing" can enhance your writing. When using "failed to establish", be sure to clarify the context to enhance reader understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not manage to establish

Replaces "failed" with "did not manage", maintaining the core meaning of an unsuccessful attempt.

was unable to establish

Substitutes "failed" with "was unable", focusing on the lack of capability to establish something.

did not succeed in establishing

Replaces "failed" with "did not succeed", emphasizing the lack of success in the establishment process.

proved unable to establish

Highlights the inability to establish something after an attempt or expectation.

did not successfully establish

Replaces "failed" with "did not successfully", placing emphasis on the lack of a positive outcome.

fell short of establishing

Indicates that the attempt to establish something did not reach the required level or standard.

was unsuccessful in establishing

Uses "unsuccessful" instead of "failed", pointing out the lack of a favorable result.

could not establish

Focuses on a lack of ability or opportunity to establish something.

neglected to establish

Emphasizes the lack of attention or care in establishing something. This implies that the reason of the failure is neglecting something.

omitted to establish

Highlights the action of excluding or leaving something out of the attempt to establish.

FAQs

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

Use "failed to establish" to describe an unsuccessful attempt to create, prove, or initiate something. For example: "The investigation "failed to establish" a direct link between the two events".

What are some alternatives to "failed to establish"?

You can use alternatives like "did not manage to establish", "was unable to establish", or "did not succeed in establishing", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "failed to establish" or "did not establish"?

"Failed to establish" emphasizes the attempt and subsequent lack of success, while "did not establish" is a more neutral statement. The best choice depends on the context and the level of emphasis you want to convey.

What's the difference between ""failed to establish"" and "failed to prove"?

"Failed to establish" indicates an inability to create or set up something, while "failed to prove" means an inability to demonstrate or verify something. The difference lies in whether the attempt was to create versus to verify.