failure of perception

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failure of perception" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone fails to accurately understand or interpret information or stimuli. Example: "The failure of perception in the witness's testimony led to significant misunderstandings during the trial."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

To me, on this side, your anger is a failure of perception, your sense of betrayal a sign of the unawakened heart.

The New Yorker

"To my mind, that is at worst a failure of perception or, as the court elsewhere calls it, 'a lapse of sensitivity,' not constitutional viewpoint discrimination," the university's counsel, David R. Scott, said in a statement.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Such striking failures of perception suggest that people do not automatically form a complete and detailed visual representation of a scene in memory.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

"—of perception".

Vice

In terms of error types, when at a relatively low fatigue level above 20, a worker's errors were mainly due to the failure of hazard perception.

Safety Science

Using an integrative or inclusive review approach Welstand and her colleagues [ 51] unpacked the experience of CHF under five concepts, namely: 'Diagnosis and manifestations of heart failure', 'Perceptions of day-to-day life', 'Coping behaviours', 'Role of others', and 'Concept of self', which is identified as an overarching concept influencing the other four.

BMC Health Services Research

In those patients who made a first suicide attempt during or soon after the treatment, this behaviour could be a side effect of the treatment itself or a consequence of treatment failure or of lack of perception of improving quality of life despite successful treatment.

British Medical Journal

Klein considers this a failure of the reporter's perception — he "never fully grasped" the event's significance — and waves it away, while himself writing grandly about the "power revolution" we can see from here, looking backward.

The New Yorker

Interviews with clinicians covered topics of: their role and experience of patients with heart failure; their perceptions of what constituted an avoidable admission; why patients are admitted to hospital; challenges for clinicians and people with heart failure in managing the condition and recommendations for improvements that might reduce admissions.

BMJ Open

Anscombe regarded the error of sense-data and naive realist theories of perception as the failure to recognise this intensionality.

SEP

However, it is not, as Ms. Hill argues, because of a gender-biased view of the potential pitfalls of a female politician but because of the more common culprits of political failure: lack of experience, perceptions of dishonesty and a failure to connect with the voters.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing cognitive processes, ensure that "failure of perception" is clearly defined within the context of sensory input, interpretation, or understanding to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "failure of perception" as a blanket term for all cognitive errors. Be specific about whether the failure relates to sensory input, interpretation, or higher-level understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failure of perception" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes an instance where the process of perceiving or understanding something goes wrong. As shown in Ludwig's examples, it can refer to misinterpreting events or sensory data.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "failure of perception" is a noun phrase used to describe an instance where someone inaccurately interprets or understands information. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across different writing styles. It's commonly found in scientific, news and media contexts, often explaining cognitive errors or misunderstandings. When using this phrase, be specific about the nature of the perceptual failure to avoid overgeneralization. Consider alternatives like "perceptual error" or "misinterpretation of reality" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perceptual error

Directly points to a mistake in the perceptual process itself.

interpretive failure

Highlights the inability to correctly assign meaning or significance.

misinterpretation of reality

Highlights the incorrect understanding of the world, shifting from perception to interpretation.

distortion of reality

Suggests that reality is altered or misrepresented in one's mind.

lack of understanding

Focuses on the absence of comprehension rather than a flawed perceptual process.

inaccurate assessment

Stresses the lack of precision in evaluating a situation or information.

flawed judgment

Indicates an error in decision-making, which may stem from incorrect perception.

cognitive bias

Emphasizes a systematic pattern of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment.

lapse in awareness

Focuses on a temporary loss or reduction in consciousness or accurate perception.

misconception

Refers to a mistaken belief, often resulting from flawed perception.

FAQs

How can I use "failure of perception" in a sentence?

You might say, "The accident was attributed to a "failure of perception" on the driver's part" or "The negotiator's "failure of perception" led to a breakdown in talks".

What's the difference between "lack of perception" and "failure of perception"?

"Lack of perception" suggests an absence of awareness, while "failure of perception" implies an attempt at understanding that resulted in error.

What are some synonyms for "failure of perception"?

Alternatives include "perceptual error", "misinterpretation of reality", or "interpretive failure", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "failure of perception"?

It's appropriate when discussing situations where someone has incorrectly understood or interpreted sensory information, leading to a flawed understanding of a situation or event.