failing which

USAGE SUMMARY

'failing which' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an expression used to refer to a situation in which a preferred outcome does not happen, and as a consequence an alternative solution must be used instead. For example: "We will try to resolve the issue amicably, failing which we will have to take legal action."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Your employer than has 21 days to remove the information, failing which you can apply for a court order.

The Guardian - Money

But at the same time the possibility of failing, which could mean anything from cowardly hiding during a fight to just getting killed, made me less eager.

The New York Times

It goes on to describe the decision to hang work by the French Impressionism as a "curatorial failing" which "amounts to an act of Aesthetic Terrorism".

Independent

We call on Iran's spirit of responsibility to restore cooperation and confidence, failing which the Security Council will have no choice but to take up the issue".

The New York Times

Sanctions lead those who are mentally ill to feel like they are failing, which pushes them further down, the charity says.

The Guardian

"It overloads a kid, and then he feels like he's failing, which only makes it worse," said Mr. Popczynski, who is a UPS driver.

The New York Times

If you want to merge units but can't find any that are failing – which is what happened with this review – you have to choose some metric besides failure.

The Guardian

Community centres are being opened for anyone who has been stranded due to the bridge failing, which experts are still unsure as to how it happened, but are determined to find the cause.

Independent

In a filing dated Sept. 13, the agency said it had five complaints from consumers and one report from Ford of jacks failing, which resulted in minivans falling off of the jacks.

The New York Times

At the other end of the field, United were bereft of any kind of structure with which consistently to attack – a failing which Wolfsburg's accentuated, with their own, free-spirited counter-attacking verve.

Independent

This puts it within a few seats of an absolute majority, failing which it might seek a coalition with the more secular Republican People's Party CHPP) or the far-right Nationalist Action Party MHPP).

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "failing which" to clearly indicate a secondary course of action when the first one doesn't succeed. This makes your writing more precise.

Common error

Avoid using "failing which" in casual conversation or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or stilted in those settings. Simpler alternatives like "otherwise" or "if that fails" are better choices.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failing which" functions as an adverbial connector, linking two clauses by indicating a contingency. It specifies what will happen if the condition in the first clause is not met. As supported by Ludwig, it introduces a consequential action contingent on the failure of a preceding one.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failing which" is a formal conjunction phrase used to introduce an alternative action or outcome if a primary condition is not met. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples across diverse contexts, predominantly in Science, News & Media, and Formal & Business domains. It is crucial to recognize its formal register and avoid overuse in casual settings, opting instead for simpler alternatives like "otherwise" or "if that fails". The phrase serves to establish a clear conditional relationship and outline consequential actions with precision. It's common to find the expression in authoritative sources, making it a valuable tool for clear and concise communication in structured and formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

otherwise

This is a simpler, more direct synonym, suitable for many contexts where "failing which" is used.

if that fails

This alternative directly addresses the failure of a prior action before introducing a subsequent one.

in the event of failure

This phrase highlights the condition of failure more explicitly.

if this does not succeed

This option specifies the lack of success as the condition leading to an alternative.

should that not happen

This alternative uses a more conditional tone.

if the primary action is unsuccessful

This more elaborately describes the initial action's lack of success.

absent that

A concise and somewhat formal way to introduce an alternative outcome.

as a last resort

This indicates the alternative is a final option when all else has been tried.

in lieu thereof

A formal, legalistic phrase indicating replacement by something else.

alternatively

This presents a simple alternative, without the explicit condition of failure.

FAQs

How can I use "failing which" in a sentence?

Use "failing which" to introduce an alternative action or outcome if the primary one does not occur. For example, "We aim to settle this amicably, "failing which" we will pursue legal action."

What can I say instead of "failing which"?

Alternatives include "otherwise", "if that fails", or "in the event of failure" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "failing which" formal or informal?

"Failing which" is generally considered a formal phrase, best suited for professional, academic, or legal writing. It may sound out of place in casual conversation.

What is the difference between "failing which" and "otherwise"?

"Failing which" explicitly implies a failure of a prior action leading to the alternative. "Otherwise" simply introduces an alternative without necessarily implying a failure.