failing

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "failing" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used as a verb to describe something that isn't working or is happening in an unsuccessful way. For example: "The company's failing marketing strategy has led to declining profits."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So, at a time when banks are failing with some regularity, the size and ubiquity of these big banks is reassuring.

The Economist

Anthony McIntyre, a former IRA life sentence prisoner and chief researcher on the Belfast project, defended the archive and blamed Boston College for failing to make clear to him and the interviewees that there was a legal treaty that allowed the British state to seize academic material from the United States.

The Guardian

Obeid was accused of failing to disclose a family interest in the cafes while lobbying to have the leases renewed without a tender process taking place, to the financial benefit of his family.

The Guardian

Carver's critics claim he is failing to motivate his squad.

The Guardian - Sport

Can so called "free market" activists pull the blinkers away for long enough to see that failing to act decisively on greenhouse gas emissions will eventually restrict people's freedoms, rather than enhance them?

The Guardian

She attacked the party for refusing to say it would abolish the bedroom tax, failing to speak up for the rights of immigrants and saying benefit cuts "aren't deep enough".

The Guardian

"These increases are a heavy burden on our constituents," added Phil Gingrey of Georgia, who pressed Sebelius for more detail on how those facing financial hardship will avoid government penalties for failing to sign up.

The Guardian

The win by two runs, he says, inspired relief in the England dressing room rather than joy – just as failing to win in Cardiff hugely frustrated the Australians three weeks ago.

The Guardian - Sport

Sturgeon now admits that the SNP had not anticipated the pro-UK's side early intervention on the currency and, in the end, lost the referendum after failing to overcome people's fears on the economy.

The Guardian

Some argued that Merkel had been right to stick by her insistence on reform as a quid pro quo for bailouts, but quibbled with the manner she had gone about her business, failing to sell her policies effectively to her partners in Europe.

The Guardian

But if that primitive resonance is not achieved, storytellers are failing to fulfil what is perhaps their primary function, which is therapeutic – to act as an echo chamber to our deepest fears and desires, and thus help to integrate them into a healthy personality.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process or system that isn't working effectively, use "failing" to clearly communicate the lack of success and prompt a need for change or improvement.

Common error

Avoid using "failing" when a noun like "failure" is more appropriate. "Failing" is a verb form; use "failure" to refer to the state or instance of not succeeding. For example, instead of saying "The failing of the bridge...", say "The failure of the bridge..."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "failing" is as a verb, specifically the present participle of the verb "fail". It often acts as part of a continuous verb tense or as an adjective describing something that is not successful, as seen in examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failing" functions primarily as a verb, denoting an ongoing state of decline or lack of success. As Ludwig AI explains, it's grammatically correct and frequently used. With a very common frequency and strong presence in News & Media, it serves to describe situations where expectations are not being met. While versatile, be mindful of choosing "failure" when a noun is more appropriate. By considering these nuances, you can effectively use "failing" to communicate states of inadequacy or decline.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not succeeding

Replaces the single word with a negative and a verb, emphasizing the lack of success.

unsuccessful

Provides a direct synonym indicating a lack of positive outcome.

experiencing failure

Shifts the focus to the experience of failure, suggesting a process rather than a state.

in a state of decline

Indicates a gradual deterioration or weakening.

performing poorly

Focuses on substandard performance or execution.

proving inadequate

Highlights the insufficiency or unsuitability of something.

falling short

Emphasizes the failure to meet expectations or standards.

degenerating

Implies a decline in quality or condition, often over time.

floundering

Suggests struggling or moving with difficulty, often without success.

collapsing

Implies a sudden and complete failure, often with dramatic consequences.

FAQs

How can I use "failing" in a sentence?

"Failing" is often used as a verb, either in the present participle form (e.g., "The system is failing") or as part of a gerund phrase (e.g., "Failing to plan is planning to fail")."

What are some alternatives to using "failing"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "not succeeding", "experiencing failure", or "in a state of decline".

Is it correct to say something is "failing" or "in failure"?

While "failing" is a present participle and describes an ongoing process, "in failure" isn't standard English. Instead, use "failing" to describe the state of something not succeeding, or use the noun form, "failure", to describe the event or state itself.

What's the difference between "failing" and "failed"?

"Failing" describes an ongoing process of not succeeding, while "failed" describes something that has already not succeeded. For example, "The project is failing" means it's currently not going well, while "The project failed" means it did not succeed in the past.