failed to insert

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to insert" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where an attempt to add or include something was unsuccessful, such as in technical or data-related discussions. Example: "The system reported that it failed to insert the new record into the database due to a validation error."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

For two observations, the gratings failed to insert due to a failure of the limit switches that was avoided thereafter.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Not all his supporters seemed convinced by the compromises, particularly over trade, where the Sanders camp failed to insert outright opposition to Barack Obama's controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership deal.

The Guardian

Yet isn't it absurd to suppose that men as precise in their use of language as Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison would absentmindedly have failed to insert God into the nation's founding document?

The New York Times

Fire chiefs said that multiple factors caused the blazes, but environmentalists say the toll was higher than it should have been because plantations had expanded to the edge of communities and companies had failed to insert firebreaks.

The Guardian

Hipparcos got off to a rocky start when a rocket engine failed to insert the satellite into a circular geostationary orbit, leaving the satellite in a highly elliptical orbit that passed in and out of Earth's radiation belts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Now, as someone who regularly likes to cover the success stories of the App Store, I thought this would have been fairly obvious to other developers and have thus failed to insert disclaimers that these cases were not typical results.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

In the present paper, we report that both domain I and II of human TPCs are capable of independent insertion into membranes, whereas the loop linking the domains fails to insert.

Biochemical Journal

It is fair to ask why people who just happened to be passing by fail to insert themselves these scenes.

The New Yorker

The peptide also binds to negatively charged POPC/POPG (3:1) lipid vesicles but fails to insert deep into the membrane interior.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes

And because they fail to insert themselves into the context of what matters most to their audiences, they miss the big chance to communicate true value.

Huffington Post

In contrast, all Bax mutants containing the mutation S→E at S184 (i.e. S184E, AE or EE) have a mobility-shift and fail to insert into mitochondrial membranes with decreased protein stability and less apoptotic activity.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failed to insert", ensure that the context clearly indicates what was meant to be inserted and why the insertion was unsuccessful. Provide specific details to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "failed to insert" without clarifying the reason for the failure. Simply stating that something failed to be inserted can leave the reader wondering about the underlying cause or problem. Always provide context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to insert" functions as a verb phrase indicating an unsuccessful action of including or placing something. It typically connects a subject with an action that did not achieve its intended result, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "failed to insert" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe an unsuccessful attempt at including or placing something. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and finds use across various domains, including News & Media, Science and Academia. While generally neutral in tone, its formality can shift based on context, with more technical or scientific settings favoring a slightly more formal register. When using this phrase, clarity is key: always specify what was meant to be inserted and the reasons behind the failure. For alternative expressions, consider "was unable to insert" or "could not insert" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was unable to insert

Replaces "failed" with "was unable", maintaining the same meaning but with slightly different wording.

could not insert

Substitutes "failed" with "could not", offering a more direct and concise alternative.

did not insert

Replaces "failed to" with "did not", simplifying the phrase while retaining the original meaning.

was unsuccessful in inserting

Offers a more formal and elaborate way of expressing the failed attempt.

neglected to insert

Indicates an oversight or omission in inserting something.

omitted to insert

Emphasizes the act of leaving something out during insertion.

the insertion failed

Shifts the focus to the failure of the insertion itself, rather than the act of failing to insert.

left out

Simplifies the phrase to a more casual expression, indicating something was not included.

excluded from insertion

Focuses on the exclusion of something from the insertion process.

insertion was not achieved

Presents the failed insertion as an unachieved outcome.

FAQs

What does "failed to insert" mean?

The phrase "failed to insert" indicates that an attempt to add or include something was unsuccessful. It suggests that the process of insertion did not achieve the desired outcome.

What are some alternatives to "failed to insert"?

You can use alternatives like "was unable to insert", "could not insert", or "did not insert depending on the context.

How to use "failed to insert" in a sentence?

You can use "failed to insert" to describe an unsuccessful attempt to include something, such as: "The system reported that it failed to insert the new record into the database."

Is "failed to insert" formal or informal?

"Failed to insert" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "was unsuccessful in inserting" may be preferred in some situations.