failed to process

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to process" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that a system, application, or individual was unable to complete a processing task or operation. Example: "The system encountered an error and failed to process the transaction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

They contend that plaintiffs "arbitrarily and capriciously refused to grant permission to Kinko's" while granting it to others, plaintiffs understaffed their permissions departments in order to delay processing and, in some cases, failed to process them at all.

Harvard University

Furthermore, Alp1U, Lom6, and FlsH all failed to process FST F (5) which carries an O-methoxyl group at C1 (Fig. 3b).

Nature

According to Keynote, L.L. Bean's site failed to process transactions about 4percentt of the time, but the site was more than twice as slow as EddieBauer.com, a competitor.

The New York Times

While the report did not assign blame, it described how the Peruvians and the Americans involved kept talking past one another and failed to process adequately crucial information even when they did understand one another.

The New York Times

Any longer, the doctor at the hospital said, and I would have suffered lasting damage as the proteins in my body broke down and my kidneys failed to process them.

The Guardian

The hourly workers' lawsuit also names the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and its Local Lodge 709, as defendants, contending that when the black employees filed grievances, the union failed to process them.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

We see these measures all the time within our urban environments, whether in London or Tokyo, but we fail to process their true intent.

The Guardian

What he found was that when people look at gory images and also erotic ones they fail to process what they see immediately afterwards.

The Economist

Customers have long been befuddled by accidental A.T.M. withdrawals and so-called transaction gaps, where a customer pays online but the transaction fails to process.

The New York Times

If, on the other hand, I manufacture or manipulate quotes or fail to process the work of others through my own thinking and writing, then the Web — a crowd-sourced scrutiny machine — will find me out.

The New York Times

But apps that didn't will start to break on Friday, as they fail to process the tweet ID 4,294,967,296.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failed to process", ensure the context clearly indicates what was supposed to be processed and why the failure occurred. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid phrasing sentences with "failed to process" in a way that obscures the actor responsible for the failure. Instead of "The application failed to process", consider "The system failed to process the application" for improved clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to process" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a past tense verb phrase indicating the inability to complete an action. Ludwig confirms its correct usage across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failed to process" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to indicate that a task or operation was not successfully completed. As Ludwig confirms, its usage spans across various contexts, from formal academic papers to news reports. While alternatives like ""could not process"" or ""was unable to process"" exist, the choice often depends on stylistic preference. When using this phrase, clarity is key: specify what was meant to be processed and why the failure occurred to ensure effective communication. This instruction respects Ludwig's advice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could not process

Simple substitution with a synonym of "failed".

was unable to process

Replaces "failed" with "was unable", indicating a lack of capability.

did not process

A more direct and straightforward way of saying something wasn't processed.

neglected to process

Indicates an oversight or omission in processing.

omitted processing

Focuses on the act of leaving out the processing step.

left unprocessed

Describes the state of something not being processed.

refused to process

Implies a deliberate decision not to process something.

botched the processing

Suggests the processing was attempted but done poorly.

erred in processing

Highlights a mistake made during the processing.

malfunctioned during processing

Indicates a system or mechanical failure during the process.

FAQs

What does "failed to process" mean?

The phrase "failed to process" means that a system, person, or application was unable to complete a specific task or operation. It indicates that the expected processing did not occur.

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

You can use "failed to process" to describe a variety of scenarios where an action or task was not completed. For example: "The transaction "could not process" due to a system error" or "The application "was unable to process" the request".

What are some alternatives to "failed to process"?

Some alternatives to "failed to process" include "could not process", "was unable to process", "did not process", or "neglected to process". The best alternative depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "could not process" or "failed to process"?

Both "could not process" and "failed to process" are grammatically correct and largely interchangeable. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations. "Failed to process" might imply a stronger sense of breakdown or malfunction, while "could not process" can simply mean the system lacked the ability.