failing to realize

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failing to realize" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a lack of awareness or understanding about a particular situation or fact. Example: "She was failing to realize the impact of her words on her friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Schilling continued in his tirade, What these kids are failing to realize, what this generation fails to realize is this; Everything they've just said and done?

Huffington Post

In July a blog post about Rick Santorum using gay social networking app Grindr swept across Facebook, its readers failing to realize that the piece came from a satirical website -- possibly because they failed to read the article before reposting and retweeting it.

Huffington Post

The most common mistake is failing to realize that profit isn't cash.

The Guardian

Imagine if Republicans lose the House partly over health care after failing to realize their repeal dream.

The Washington Post

The second is that "we consistently get these kinds of conflicts wrong" by failing to realize that giants have weaknesses, and that underdogs can accomplish the unexpected.

The New York Times - Books

There are people in their countries for whom hating "the other" has become a source of identity and a collective excuse for failing to realize their own potential.

The New York Times

Similarly, we may look down on colleagues who concede when confronted with tough negotiating opponents – failing to realize that we would act the same way in their shoes.

Harvard University

The Cambridge players thought they had a poor result, failing to realize that six clubs, missing two aces, was "unbeatable," assuming a normal lead.

The New York Times - Arts

So they weren't just failing to realize the benefits of helping behaviors; they were incurring a host of negative outcomes, as well.

Harvard Business Review

However, there are potential costs of failing to discriminate between living and dead animals, including unnecessary vigilance and lost opportunities from failing to realize that an animal, such as an animal killed for food, is dead.

Cognition

On behalf of Patriots fans everywhere, thank you Rex for failing to realize that trying to supplant the Patriots with Sanchez at QB is like trying to win the Indy 500 on a Segway.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failing to realize", ensure the sentence clearly indicates what was not understood and the consequences of that lack of understanding. This provides context and emphasizes the significance of the oversight.

Common error

Avoid embedding "failing to realize" within overly complex sentences. This can obscure the meaning and make the sentence difficult to parse. Simplify the sentence structure for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failing to realize" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as part of a verb phrase or clause. It indicates a missed opportunity for understanding or awareness. As supported by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and can be used to discuss lack of awareness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failing to realize" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to express a lack of understanding or awareness. Ludwig AI indicates that it’s appropriate for analytical writing. It appears most frequently in news and academic contexts. When using this phrase, clarity is crucial; ensure that the object of the unrealized understanding is clearly stated. While perfectly acceptable, consider alternatives like "not understanding" or "being unaware of" to add nuance or variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not understanding

Direct replacement focusing on the lack of comprehension.

not grasping

Similar to not understanding, but implies a difficulty in comprehending.

not recognizing

Highlights a failure to identify or acknowledge something.

being unaware of

Focuses on the lack of knowledge or consciousness about something.

overlooking

Suggests missing something important, often due to carelessness.

neglecting to consider

Implies a failure to take something into account.

not appreciating

Emphasizes a lack of understanding of the value or importance of something.

underestimating

Implies a failure to recognize the true extent or potential of something.

remaining ignorant of

Stresses a continued state of unawareness or lack of knowledge.

missing the point

Suggests a complete lack of understanding of the central idea.

FAQs

How can I use "failing to realize" in a sentence?

Use "failing to realize" to indicate a lack of understanding or awareness. For example: "They were "failing to realize" the severity of the situation."

What are some alternatives to "failing to realize"?

You can use alternatives such as "not understanding", "being unaware of", or "overlooking" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "failing to realize" and "failing to recognize"?

"Failing to realize" implies a lack of comprehension or understanding, while "failing to recognize" suggests a failure to identify something. The best choice depends on whether you mean a lack of understanding or a lack of identification.

When is it appropriate to use "failing to realize" in formal writing?

The phrase "failing to realize" is suitable for formal writing when discussing a lack of understanding or awareness that has consequences. It adds a critical tone, appropriate for analysis and evaluation.