failed to see

USAGE SUMMARY

"failed to see" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
Example sentence: Despite his attempts, he failed to see how he could make the situation better.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They failed to see the comet.

The New Yorker

Everyone failed to see any ambiguity.

The Guardian - Books

They failed to see the storm coming.

The New York Times - Books

But officers failed to see a pattern.

The Guardian

If I failed to see that, I failed to see him.

The New York Times

She had seen what her mother had failed to see.

Independent

But Mr. Schieffer failed to see the humor in it.

The New York Times

Right off, Ms. Creskoff failed to see the appeal.

The New York Times

But he failed to see the bust coming.

The Economist

Most European commentators failed to see the joke.

The New York Times

When the call came, Key failed to see it.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "failed to see" when you want to emphasize a lack of understanding or foresight regarding a specific issue or situation. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "failed to see" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Consider more precise alternatives like "did not discern" or "overlooked" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to see" functions as a verb phrase indicating a lack of perception, understanding, or foresight. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it often describes a failure to recognize a pattern, a problem, or an implication.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

13%

Science

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "failed to see" is a versatile verb phrase used to indicate a lack of understanding, foresight, or perception. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and science. While its register is generally neutral, it's essential to consider more precise alternatives like "did not discern" in highly formal writing. With numerous examples available, understanding its nuances and contexts allows for effective and precise communication. The phrase is very frequent, especially in News and Media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not perceive

Focuses on a lack of sensory or intellectual awareness.

did not understand

Highlights a lack of comprehension or insight.

missed the point

Emphasizes a failure to grasp the central idea or argument.

overlooked

Suggests a lack of attention leading to something being missed.

was blind to

Implies a deliberate or unintentional inability to recognize something.

could not discern

Stresses the difficulty or inability to distinguish or recognize something.

did not foresee

Highlights a lack of anticipation or prediction.

neglected to notice

Indicates a lack of attention or care in observing something.

remained unaware of

Emphasizes a continued state of not knowing or perceiving something.

dropped the ball

Suggests a failure to take care of something important

FAQs

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

You can use "failed to see" to indicate a lack of understanding or foresight. For example: "The analysts "failed to see" the economic downturn coming."

What are some alternatives to "failed to see"?

Alternatives include "did not perceive", "did not understand", or "overlooked", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "failed to see" or "did not see"?

"Failed to see" implies a lack of understanding or foresight, while "did not see" is a more literal statement of not perceiving something. The best choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "failed to see" and "overlooked"?

"Failed to see" generally indicates a lack of understanding, whereas "overlooked" suggests something was missed due to inattention or negligence.