fails to work well

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fails to work well" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is not functioning effectively or as intended. Example: "The new software update fails to work well on older devices, causing frustration among users."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is especially true in groups where COI fails to work well, e.g. in fungi [ 34], where it was used in combination with ITS1, and, most recently, in diatoms [ 35].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Upon transfer to the recipient, the heart failed to work well initially and required the child to remain on a dangerous heart-lung bypass machine for several days.

The New York Times - Magazine

COMETS does not use fitting to each substrate, and frankly an objective means to parameterize when canonical parameters fail to work well is a nice step.

eLife

Under its contract, Sentinel is required to document each time a device worn by an offender experiences a false alarm or fails to work, as well as record all other interactions with probationers.

Los Angeles Times

Don't be surprised if this method fails to work that well; many networks will retain the same IP.

WikiHow

Unfortunately its 3G services failed to work as well as those of its rivals.

The Economist

The Food and Drug Administration said it was looking more closely at the way generic companies made extended-release drugs after it found one such medicine failed to work as well as its brand-name counterpart.

The New York Times

However, the drug, also known as bevacizumab, failed to work in recent trials against prostate and stomach cancers, as well as a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The New York Times

Camera surveillance, radar, satellites images have not been very reliable so far as they fail to work in drastic weather conditions and can be manipulated as well.

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

But the reforms often fail to work.

The Economist

"Health care providers failed to work together".

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the performance of a system or process, consider using "fails to work well" to highlight that it is not functioning as intended, especially when you want to emphasize the degree of failure.

Common error

While "fails to work well" is acceptable, avoid overuse. Vary your language by using more precise terms that specify the nature of the failure, such as "malfunctions", "is ineffective", or "is not properly calibrated."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fails to work well" functions as a descriptive phrase indicating that something is not functioning effectively or as intended. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

34%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

7%

Encyclopedias

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fails to work well" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something that is not functioning effectively or as intended. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and acceptability. While its frequency is categorized as uncommon, it finds use across diverse contexts like science, news media, and general writing. For alternative expressions, consider options like "does not function effectively" or "is ineffective", depending on the desired level of formality. Remember to avoid overusing "fails to work well" and opt for more specific terms when possible to provide a clearer understanding of the issue.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

does not function effectively

Replaces "fails" with a more neutral term, and "work well" with "function effectively".

is not functioning properly

Substitutes "fails" with "is not functioning" and "work well" with "properly".

does not operate correctly

Changes "work well" to "operate correctly", focusing on the correctness of the operation.

is ineffective

Offers a more concise way to express the idea of not working well.

is not up to par

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate that something does not meet the required standard.

is subpar

A more concise, slightly less formal way of saying "is not up to par".

is deficient in performance

Uses more formal language to describe a lack of adequate performance.

is not performing optimally

Focuses on the lack of optimal performance, suggesting it could be better.

is falling short

Emphasizes that something is not reaching the expected level or standard.

is proving inadequate

Highlights the inadequacy of something in fulfilling its intended purpose.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "fails to work well" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "does not function effectively", "is ineffective", or "is deficient in performance".

What's a simpler way to say "fails to work well"?

Simpler alternatives include "doesn't work", "is ineffective", or "is not working".

Is "fails to work well" grammatically correct?

Yes, "fails to work well" is grammatically correct and understandable. It indicates that something is not functioning as intended or is not performing up to expectations. Ludwig AI confirms this.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "fails to work well"?

Use "fails to work well" when you want to emphasize that something is not only not working, but is also not working effectively. It's suitable for describing systems, processes, or even personal efforts that are not yielding the desired results.