failed to happen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to happen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an event or occurrence that did not take place as expected or intended. Example: "The meeting we scheduled for last week failed to happen due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

This famously failed to happen in Iraq.

Independent

What happened or failed to happen?

The Guardian

WHY pay attention to a deal that failed to happen?

The Economist

All the dire consequences predicted by doubters failed to happen.

The Economist

But the love-in has failed to happen.

The Economist

That failed to happen on this occasion," the report says.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

This is the moment when "change" either happens or fails to happen.

The New York Times

After all, when they fail to happen, French voters will surely blame Europe.

The Economist

Should that fail to happen, Bryant would experience his second losing season, but this time with a stronger supporting cast.

The New York Times

It is a homecoming that almost fails to happen when a plummeting swan causes a minor collision.

The Guardian - Books

Melatonin release fails to happen at night as it should, and the natural rhythm of core body temperature is disturbed.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "failed to happen" to clearly indicate that an expected event did not occur, without necessarily assigning blame or delving into the reasons why.

Common error

While acceptable, "failed to happen" can sometimes sound less formal. In highly formal or scientific writing, consider using more precise and professional alternatives like "did not occur" or "did not materialize".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to happen" functions as a verbal phrase indicating that an event or action did not occur as expected or planned. This is supported by the numerous examples Ludwig provides, confirming its role in describing the absence of an anticipated event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "failed to happen" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote that an anticipated event did not occur. According to Ludwig, it's usable in written English. While its register leans towards neutral, it is most common in news and media contexts. For more formal or scientific writing, alternatives like "did not occur" or "did not materialize" might be preferable. As evidenced by the variety of examples provided by Ludwig, this phrase effectively communicates the non-occurrence of an expected event across diverse scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not occur

A more formal and direct way of saying something didn't take place.

didn't materialize

Indicates something expected didn't become a reality.

did not transpire

Implies a more formal or significant event didn't occur.

never came to pass

Suggests an anticipated event didn't materialize.

was not realized

Implies a goal or intention was not achieved.

didn't go as planned

Focuses on the deviation from the original plan.

fell through

A more informal way of saying a plan or arrangement didn't work out.

came to nothing

Indicates an effort or plan had no positive outcome.

proved abortive

Suggests that something was terminated early, or was unsuccessful.

was prevented

Highlights that external reasons or external causes stopped the event.

FAQs

What does "failed to happen" mean?

The phrase "failed to happen" means that something that was expected, planned, or intended did not occur or come to pass.

What are some alternatives to "failed to happen"?

You can use alternatives like "did not occur", "did not materialize", or "fell through" depending on the context.

Is "failed to happen" grammatically correct?

Yes, the phrase "failed to happen" is grammatically correct and commonly used in both spoken and written English.

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

You can use "failed to happen" to describe situations where anticipated events did not take place, such as "The meeting "failed to happen" due to unforeseen circumstances."