failed to take

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failed to take" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone did not succeed in taking an action or opportunity. Example: "He failed to take the necessary precautions before starting the experiment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They failed to take it.

The Economist

failed to take action".

The New York Times

Agang had failed to take off.

The Guardian

Democracy has failed to take root.

The New York Times - Magazine

The Senate failed to take final action.

The New York Times

Unsurprisingly perhaps, it failed to take off.

The Guardian - Books

(It failed to take home any awards).

The New York Times

But these failed to take place.

The Guardian - Opinion

It failed to take charge of itself".

The New Yorker

Had he failed to take a good look around him?

The New York Times

Most Russian companies have failed to take advantage of this.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failed to take", ensure the context clearly indicates what action or opportunity was missed. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "failed to take" when a deliberate choice was made not to act. The phrase implies an attempt or expectation that was not met, rather than a conscious decision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed to take" functions as a verb phrase, specifically indicating a lack of success or inability to perform a certain action. As confirmed by Ludwig, it expresses that an expected action was not carried out. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts, from military strategies to personal opportunities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

16%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "failed to take" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase that indicates a lack of success or inability to perform a certain action. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is usable in written English to indicate that someone did not succeed in taking an action or opportunity. Predominantly found in news and media, it also appears in scientific, wiki, encyclopedic, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly identifies what action or opportunity was missed. Some similar phrases include "did not take", "neglected to take", and "missed taking".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not take

Simple negation of the action "take", indicating the action was not performed.

neglected to take

Implies an oversight or lack of attention in not performing the action.

omitted to take

Suggests a deliberate leaving out or exclusion of the action.

missed taking

Emphasizes a lost opportunity to perform the action.

were unable to take

Focuses on a lack of capability or capacity to perform the action.

could not take

Indicates an inability or lack of permission to perform the action.

proved unable to take

Highlights that the inability to take action was demonstrated or proven.

fell short of taking

Emphasizes the action was not completed, or the goal was not fully achieved.

did not manage to take

Highlights the difficulty encountered in attempting to perform the action.

was unsuccessful in taking

Directly states the lack of success in performing the action.

FAQs

What does "failed to take" mean?

The phrase "failed to take" indicates that someone or something did not succeed in performing a specific action or seizing an opportunity. It implies an attempt or expectation that was not fulfilled.

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

You can use "failed to take" to describe a missed opportunity, a lack of action, or an unsuccessful attempt. For example: "The company "failed to take" advantage of the market trend."

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

You can use alternatives like "did not take", "neglected to take", or "missed taking" depending on the context.

Is "failed to take" formal or informal?

"Failed to take" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives might exist depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.