failed to show

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to show" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone or something did not demonstrate or present a particular quality, fact, or result. Example: "The study failed to show any significant correlation between the two variables."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Rebuffed, he failed to show up.

The New York Times

But trials failed to show a benefit over placebo.

Independent

It failed to show the existence of ether.

The New Yorker

Harvey also failed to show why the blood circulated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The rest were disqualified or failed to show up.

The Economist

He failed to show up for training at his club.

The New York Times - Sports

Some workers failed to show up for assigned shifts.

The New York Times

Of those, more than one-third failed to show up.

The Economist

Thirty subsequent pages failed to show anything political.

The New Yorker

The turnaround that executives prayed for failed to show up.

The New York Times

Even then, many of her subjects failed to show up.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failed to show", ensure that the context clearly indicates what was expected to be shown and why it's significant that it wasn't.

Common error

Avoid overly passive constructions when using "failed to show". Instead of saying "It was failed to be shown", opt for a more direct and active voice, such as "The experiment failed to show".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to show" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating a lack of demonstration or proof. As Ludwig AI underlines, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It describes a situation where something did not reveal the expected outcome.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

58%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "failed to show" is a grammatically correct and very common verb phrase used to indicate a lack of demonstration or proof. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is well-established in English usage. It's commonly found in scientific, news, and encyclopedia contexts, serving the purpose of reporting objective findings. While alternatives like "did not reveal" or "was unable to prove" exist, "failed to show" provides a concise way to communicate the absence of expected results. A best practice is to ensure the context clearly identifies what was expected to be shown. One common error to avoid is overusing passive voice when constructing sentences with this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not reveal

Replaces "failed to show" with a more direct statement of non-revelation.

did not demonstrate

Substitutes "failed to show" with a focus on the lack of demonstration.

was unable to prove

Changes the phrasing to emphasize the inability to provide evidence.

did not indicate

Replaces "failed to show" with a less assertive expression of non-indication.

failed to exhibit

Replaces "show" with "exhibit", focusing on a lack of display or presentation.

did not establish

Shifts the focus to the lack of establishment of something.

could not confirm

Emphasizes the lack of confirmation or validation.

proved inconclusive

Indicates that the attempt to show something resulted in uncertain or ambiguous results.

yielded no evidence of

Highlights the absence of any supporting evidence.

the data did not support

Focuses on the lack of support from data for a particular conclusion.

FAQs

What does "failed to show" mean?

The phrase "failed to show" means that something did not demonstrate, reveal, or prove a particular result, quality, or characteristic. It indicates an absence of expected evidence or a lack of a desired outcome.

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

You can use "failed to show" to describe a situation where a test, study, or observation did not produce the expected outcome. For example: "The study "failed to show" a significant correlation between diet and disease."

What are some alternatives to "failed to show"?

Alternatives include phrases like "did not reveal", "did not demonstrate", or "was unable to prove". Each alternative offers a slightly different nuance in meaning, but all convey a lack of evidence or demonstration. Consider also alternatives like "did not indicate" or "could not confirm".

Is it always negative to say something "failed to show"?

While "failed to show" typically indicates a lack of positive results or expected outcomes, it's not always inherently negative. In scientific research, for instance, a study that "failed to show" a particular effect can still be valuable in refining hypotheses or understanding limitations.