failure that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failure that" is not correct and does not form a complete thought in written English.
It may be used in contexts where it is followed by a clause that explains or elaborates on the failure being referenced. Example: "The project faced a significant failure that impacted our timeline and budget."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

It's success, not failure, that breeds success.

The Guardian - Opinion

It wasn't, and that's the failure that really counts.

The New Yorker

Viking was a costly failure that left many questions unanswered.

The New York Times - Science

"There's something about watching failure that is amusing," he says.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"This was a failure that ran straight to the top.

The New Yorker

It's merit, and not failure, that should be rewarded.

The New York Times

The fire also caused a brief power failure that affected several homes nearby.

The New York Times

"It's the kind of failure that can produce stigma, so no one wants to acknowledge it.

The New York Times

Minaya defended his futile search to replace Wagner, a failure that ended up haunting the Mets.

The New York Times - Sports

It's a federal failure that has fallen into the laps of local governments.

The New York Times

It is only Joyce's tragic, existential failure that brought their testimony into being.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failure" followed by a relative clause, consider replacing "that" with "which" or rephrasing to use "failure of" to improve grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "that" directly after "failure" when a more precise relative pronoun or prepositional phrase would improve clarity and grammatical accuracy. Use "failure of" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failure that" functions as part of a relative clause, aiming to provide additional information or specify a particular type of failure. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is considered grammatically incorrect, suggesting the use of alternative phrasing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "failure that" is frequently used to introduce a relative clause specifying a type of failure. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect, recommending alternatives like "failure which" or "failure of" for improved grammatical accuracy and clarity. While prevalent in news and media, its appropriateness in formal writing is questionable. Therefore, writers should exercise caution and consider alternative phrasing to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a failure that

Adds an indefinite article to describe a single instance of failure.

failure which

Replaces "that" with "which", a more grammatically accepted relative pronoun in this context.

failure of

Rephrases the construction to use "of" indicating possession or belonging.

the kind of failure that

Emphasizes the type or nature of the failure.

the failure being

Adds a present participle to emphasize the ongoing nature of the failure.

failure in which

Uses "in which" to specify the area or context of the failure.

a breakdown that

Replaces "failure" with "breakdown", indicating a sudden loss of function.

the aforementioned failure

Adds the word "aforementioned" to stress that the failure was discussed before.

the failure where

Uses where to specify the place of the failure.

an incident of failure that

Adds "an incident of" to refer to the failure.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "failure that" to be grammatically correct?

You can replace "failure that" with phrases like "failure which", "failure of", or "a failure that" depending on the context.

Is "failure that" grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "failure that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing. It's better to use alternatives like "failure which" or rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

What's the difference between "failure that" and "failure of"?

"Failure of" is a grammatically correct construction indicating possession or belonging, such as "the failure of the system". "Failure that" is often considered incorrect and should be replaced with "failure which" or a similar alternative.

When is it appropriate to use "failure that"?

While "failure that" appears in some contexts, it's generally advisable to avoid it in favor of more grammatically sound alternatives such as "failure which" or rephrasing the sentence to use "failure of" for clarity and correctness.