failed to resolve

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to resolve" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing issues or problems that could not be fixed or settled. Example: "The technical team failed to resolve the connectivity issues during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Successive governments have failed to resolve it.

The Guardian

Negotiations have failed to resolve the dispute.

The New York Times - Sports

Andersen has failed to resolve those problems.

The New York Times

"This has failed to resolve satisfactorily," said an ECB statement".

The Guardian - Sport

However, these had failed to resolve the problem.

The Guardian

And he failed to resolve the Jamia Hafsa crisis.

The New York Times - Magazine

Many studies have failed to resolve whether healthy first-degree relatives share the same deficit.

Biological Psychiatry

Multiple attempts to quantify the utility of this diagnostic instrument have failed to resolve the matter.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons

But this has failed to resolve another problem of the Age of Tuna.

The New York Times - Magazine

U.S. secretary of war William Howard Taft failed to resolve the dispute, and Estrada Palma resigned.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Yet he utterly failed to resolve the conflicts that give rise to it.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failed to resolve", ensure the context clearly indicates what effort was made to find a solution. This provides a more complete picture and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "failed to resolve" without specifying the problem or dispute that remained unresolved. Always clarify what "failed to resolve". For example, instead of saying 'Negotiations failed to resolve', specify 'Negotiations failed to resolve the wage dispute'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to resolve" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to indicate the unsuccessful outcome of an attempt to solve a problem, settle a dispute, or clarify an issue. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

34%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "failed to resolve" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the unsuccessful resolution of an issue. As Ludwig confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and academic domains. The phrase implies an attempt was made to find a solution but did not succeed. When using "failed to resolve", it's important to provide context about what specifically wasn't resolved to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "could not resolve" or "was unable to resolve" can be used depending on the context and desired formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could not resolve

Direct synonym, indicating an inability to find a solution.

was unable to resolve

Formal synonym, emphasizing the lack of capacity to resolve.

did not manage to resolve

Highlights the effort made, but ultimate failure to resolve.

proved unable to resolve

Emphasizes the proven inability to find a resolution.

failed to settle

Focuses on not reaching an agreement or settlement.

failed to fix

More informal, suggesting a failure to repair or correct something.

failed to remedy

Implies a failure to correct a problem or deficiency.

failed to reconcile

Focuses on the failure to bring into agreement or harmony.

failed to clear up

More informal, indicating a failure to clarify or resolve confusion.

remained unresolved

Passive voice alternative, indicating the issue was not resolved by anyone.

FAQs

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

You can use "failed to resolve" to describe situations where attempts to find a solution or settlement were unsuccessful. For example: "Negotiations failed to resolve the ongoing conflict" or "Multiple studies have failed to resolve whether first-degree relatives share the same deficit".

What are some alternatives to "failed to resolve"?

Alternatives include "could not resolve", "was unable to resolve", or "did not manage to resolve", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it better to use "failed to resolve" or "could not resolve"?

"Failed to resolve" and "could not resolve" are often interchangeable. "Failed to resolve" might imply a greater effort was made, while "could not resolve" simply indicates an inability to find a solution. The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "failed to resolve" and "remained unresolved"?

"Failed to resolve" implies that an attempt was made to find a solution, but it was unsuccessful. "Remained unresolved" simply indicates that the issue was not resolved, without specifying whether any attempt was made.