fails to suggest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fails to suggest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something does not provide or imply a particular idea or recommendation. Example: "The report fails to suggest any viable solutions to the problem at hand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Courtenay conveys Billy's petty rebelliousness but fails to suggest any quality that would attract the many women in his life.

The New Yorker

12.59pm: Nice aside from Wallis as Jay tries and fails to suggest that Wallis was the man behind Yates's rise.

The Guardian

In the form in which it has been presented, it also fails to suggest the shapes of molecules.

Britannica

Despite her early death, Fuller's life was extraordinarily rich, yet this novel fails to suggest the breadth and vibrancy of her intellectual and emotional concerns.

The New York Times - Books

No, clearly, Sisters sounds the best, even if it fails to suggest the alpine sublimity of the scenery ringing this small town (population 1,080) in central Oregon, 20 miles northwest of Bend.

The New York Times - Travel

Sad to say, Karina Michaels, an agile dancer, fails to suggest glamour makeover potential or a torrid star-in-the-making, even when she is exploiting her sexuality, big time, in the second act.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

What they failed to suggest was the form the mourning should have taken.

The Guardian - Books

It has failed to suggest its own answers to economic problems, social justice, education or corruption, writes Hicham Alaoui in Le Monde diplomatique.

Stanford University

Yet Jackson's former home, irrefutably more intriguing than most, had just one individual express an interest – even they failed to suggest an ample price.

Independent

I did not not suggest or even fail to suggest, that the "Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap" mise en scène contained a "swaddled, nunlike repression of Clement Moore's unacceptably ravening id".

The New Yorker

And although Yvonne Borree, as the Sleepwalker, convincingly resembled someone not responding to events in this world, she failed to suggest she was a vision from some other world.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context is clear about what is expected to be suggested. If the expected suggestion is not explicit, consider rephrasing for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "fails to suggest" when you actually mean that something actively contradicts a claim. "Fails to suggest" indicates a lack of implication, not an active refutation. For contradiction, use phrases like "directly contradicts" or "actively disproves".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fails to suggest" functions as a verb phrase that expresses a lack of indication or implication. It is commonly used to convey that something doesn't provide a clear hint or support a specific conclusion, as validated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

40%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fails to suggest" is a useful and grammatically correct way to express that something does not provide a clear indication or hint toward a specific idea. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is found in a variety of contexts, most commonly in news, media, scientific and academic writing. While the phrase is relatively common, be sure to use it accurately to reflect a lack of implication rather than a direct contradiction. Remember to consider the audience and use alternatives if a more emphatic expression is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

does not imply

Focuses on the lack of implication rather than a failure to suggest.

does not indicate

Emphasizes the absence of a direct indication.

does not hint at

Highlights the lack of a subtle suggestion.

offers no suggestion of

Stresses the complete absence of any suggested idea.

provides no evidence for

Shifts the focus to a lack of supporting evidence.

does not point to

Indicates a lack of direction or connection.

gives no reason to believe

Highlights the absence of justification for a particular belief.

neglects to propose

Emphasizes the omission of a proposal.

omits to mention

Focuses on the act of leaving something unmentioned.

leaves unstated

Highlights that something is not explicitly stated.

FAQs

What does "fails to suggest" mean?

The phrase "fails to suggest" means that something doesn't provide a clear indication, hint, or implication towards a particular idea or conclusion. It implies a lack of support or guidance in a specific direction.

What can I say instead of "fails to suggest"?

You can use alternatives like "does not imply", "does not indicate", or "provides no evidence for" depending on the context.

Is "fails to suggest" formal or informal?

"Fails to suggest" is appropriate for both formal and neutral contexts, frequently appearing in news, academic writing, and reports. It is less common in informal conversation.

How to use "fails to suggest" in a sentence?

You can use "fails to suggest" to express that data, a study, or an observation does not provide enough information to indicate a certain outcome or relationship. For example, "The research data fails to suggest a significant difference between the two treatment groups."