fails to improve

USAGE SUMMARY

"fails to improve" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing situations where there is no progress or enhancement. Example: "Despite the efforts, the team's performance fails to improve." Alternative expressions include "does not improve" and "remains stagnant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And as the security situation fails to improve, these perceptions continue to darken.

The New York Times - Magazine

If the utility fails to improve its performance, it could be shut down.

The New York Times

Millions more in European funds could dry up if the Bulgarian government fails to improve controls.

The New York Times

And Williams even tries — and fails — to improve on Chekhov's ending.

The New York Times

The player who fails to improve upon the previous roll loses.

Harvard University

Some wonder whether they will, especially if security fails to improve.

The Economist

Training stops when the error on the test data fails to improve.

Handbook of Geophysical Exploration: Seismic Exploration

If China fails to improve its response to the disease, Ms. Wu cautioned, "The consequences will be very grievous".

The New York Times

We accept that bus and subway fares go up and up while service fails to improve or degenerates.

The Guardian

Increasing steel ratio fails to improve the load-bearing capacity and stiffness, but can lighten the weight of the columns.

Thin-Walled Structures

Although Virage's government business has doubled since Sept. 11, that alone will not be enough to carry the company if the technology market fails to improve.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific writing, this phrase is excellent for describing a treatment or variable that had no significant effect on a measured outcome.

Common error

A frequent error is using the singular 'fails' with a plural subject. If you are discussing multiple factors, use "fail to improve" instead. For example, write 'the conditions fail to improve' rather than 'the conditions fails to improve'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fails to improve" functions as a negative-result verb phrase. It consists of the third-person singular verb 'fails' followed by a to-infinitive. According to Ludwig, it is used to denote the absence of a desired or expected positive change. It often acts as the predicate of a conditional clause (starting with 'if') or as a descriptive statement of a current trend.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1.5%

Social Media

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "fails to improve" is a robust and grammatically sound phrase used to describe the absence of progress. Ludwig AI highlights its prevalence in high-quality journalism and scientific literature, where it serves as a precise way to communicate that a situation, condition or metric has not moved in a positive direction. Whether you are writing a medical case study, an economic report or a news article, this phrase is a reliable choice for objective reporting. It is significantly more expressive than a simple negation because it subtly frames the lack of improvement against an expectation of change.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

does not improve

More neutral and slightly less emphatic than using the verb fail.

shows no signs of improvement

Adds a layer of observation, suggesting that no indicators of bettering are present.

is not getting better

A more informal, continuous form suitable for speech or casual writing.

fails to enhance

Focuses specifically on the lack of added value or quality rather than general betterment.

fails to ameliorate

Significantly more formal and often used in medical or socio-political contexts to describe a failure to make a bad situation better.

shows no progress

Shifts the focus to the visible evidence of improvement rather than the failure itself.

fails to advance

Suggests a failure to move forward in a process or sequence.

remains stagnant

Emphasizes the complete lack of movement or flow in a situation.

fails to boost

Often used in economic or performance contexts to describe a failure to increase a metric.

fails to rectify

Implies a failure to correct a specific error or fault rather than a general improvement.

FAQs

How do I use "fails to improve" in a sentence?

It is typically used after a singular subject to describe a lack of progress, such as: "If the patient's condition "fails to improve", further tests will be required."

What is the difference between "fails to improve" and "does not improve"?

While both mean the same thing, "fails to improve" often implies that an improvement was expected or attempted, whereas "does not improve" is a more neutral observation of a state.

Is "fails to improve" formal enough for a research paper?

Yes, it is highly appropriate for research. For even more formal contexts, you might consider "fails to ameliorate" if referring to the mitigation of a negative condition.

What can I say instead of "fails to improve" to vary my writing?

Depending on your context, you can use phrases like "shows no progress", "remains unchanged" or "fails to enhance".