failed to qualify

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to qualify" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone or something did not meet the necessary criteria or standards for qualification, such as in competitions or assessments. Example: "Despite her hard work and dedication, she unfortunately failed to qualify for the national championship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Estonia failed to qualify.

The New York Times

Friedrich failed to qualify.

The Guardian - Sport

Argentina failed to qualify from South America.

The New York Times - Sports

but haven't failed to qualify since 1982.

The Guardian - Sport

Spain, France and Holland failed to qualify.

The Guardian - Sport

In Virginia, Gingrich failed to qualify for the ballot.

The New York Times

He failed to qualify for the elimination rounds.

The New York Times - Sports

He nearly failed to qualify for this year's world championships.

The Guardian - Sport

They failed to qualify their side of the bargain.

The Guardian

Gingrich and Rick Santorum failed to qualify for the ballot.

The New Yorker

We need to be in Europe, yet failed to qualify".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about competitive scenarios, use "failed to qualify" to clearly indicate a lack of success in meeting required standards or achieving a qualifying position.

Common error

Avoid using "failed to qualify" when the subject was actually "disqualified". "Failed to qualify" indicates a lack of ability to meet the standard, whereas "disqualified" implies a violation of rules leading to removal from the competition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to qualify" functions as a verb phrase indicating a lack of success in meeting the requirements for a specific standard or competition. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability across a range of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

30%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "failed to qualify" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate a lack of success in meeting specific requirements or standards. Ludwig AI confirms its broad applicability across various contexts, particularly in news, sports, and academic writing. While largely interchangeable with phrases like "did not qualify", it may sometimes suggest a greater degree of effort or expectation. When using the phrase, it's crucial to ensure that it accurately reflects a failure to meet the standard rather than a disqualification due to rule violations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not succeed in qualifying

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

was unable to qualify

Focuses on the inability to meet the requirements for qualification.

could not qualify

Focuses on the lack of possibility to qualify.

did not meet the qualification standards

Highlights the unmet standards required for qualification.

did not pass the qualifying criteria

Highlights the unmet criteria.

fell short of qualifying

Emphasizes the narrow margin by which qualification was missed.

was excluded from qualifying

Focuses on the state of being excluded.

was unsuccessful in the qualifying round

Specifies the qualifying round as the context of failure.

was eliminated from contention

Indicates removal from the possibility of qualifying.

missed the cut

An idiomatic expression indicating failure to qualify, especially in sports.

FAQs

What's the difference between "failed to qualify" and "did not qualify"?

The phrases "failed to qualify" and "did not qualify" are largely interchangeable. However, "failed to qualify" might carry a slightly stronger connotation of effort or expectation that was unmet, while "did not qualify" is more neutral.

What can I say instead of "failed to qualify"?

You can use alternatives like "did not succeed in qualifying", "was unable to qualify", or "missed the cut" depending on the context.

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

Use "failed to qualify" to describe someone or something that did not meet the necessary requirements or standards to proceed in a competition, assessment, or selection process. For example: "The team failed to qualify for the finals after a series of losses."

Is it appropriate to use "failed to qualify" in formal writing?

Yes, "failed to qualify" is appropriate for formal writing. It is a clear and direct way to state that someone or something did not meet the required standards. However, consider the specific tone and audience when choosing between "failed to qualify" and alternatives like "did not qualify".