failure to complete

USAGE SUMMARY

"failure to complete" is a correct phrase and is commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe the act of not finishing a task or activity. Example: The project was delayed due to John's failure to complete his portion of the work on time.

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Failure to complete employment verification may delay future disbursements.

University of California, Berkeley

Failure to complete the survey will impact future scholarship eligibility.

University of California, Berkeley

Sony's failure to complete the deal appears to have opened the field to rival bids.

The New York Times

Failure to complete reform of the Lords was a collective failure, not just Labour's.

The Guardian

David Cameron also expressed frustration last week over failure to complete the report.

The Guardian

The end of the cricket legend's innings followed his failure to complete the last group trial.

The Guardian - Sport

But he was exasperated by Paula Radcliffe's failure to complete the 10,000 metres on Friday.

The Guardian - Sport

Failure to complete the carrier-strike project would risk leaving us with two white elephants.

The Guardian - Opinion

Aposiopesis, (Greek: "becoming silent"), a speaker's deliberate failure to complete a sentence.

Britannica

Failure to complete this process results in a hold being placed on the student's account.

Stanford University

Failure to complete honors program results in student being required to complete BIO 44Y.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failure to complete", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific task or process was not finished. Clarity enhances the impact of the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "failure to complete" without specifying the object or task. For example, instead of saying "His failure to complete was detrimental", specify "His failure to complete the report was detrimental."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failure to complete" functions as a noun phrase that describes the act of not finishing something. It often serves as the subject or object of a sentence, indicating a deficiency or lack of accomplishment. As per Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

40%

News & Media

35%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failure to complete" is a commonly used phrase to describe the act of not finishing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely employed across varied domains, especially academia, news, and science. While it maintains a neutral to formal tone, it's important to provide context to ensure that the sentence structure is very clear. Semantically related alternatives include "inability to finish" and "non-completion", offering subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inability to finish

Replaces "failure" with "inability", focusing on the lack of capacity rather than the act of failing.

failure to conclude

Substitutes "complete" with "conclude", suggesting a lack of finalization or resolution.

non-completion

Uses a single word to express the idea of not finishing, often used in more formal contexts.

failure to execute

Emphasizes the lack of successful implementation or performance.

omission to finalize

Highlights the act of leaving something unfinished or not properly finalized.

neglect to accomplish

Focuses on the lack of attention or diligence in achieving a task.

default on completion

Implies a breach or failure to meet the requirements of finishing something.

lapse in finishing

Suggests a temporary failure or oversight in completing a task.

abandonment of completion

Conveys a deliberate act of giving up on finishing something.

cessation of work

Focuses on the act of stopping work before the task is finished.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "failure to complete" in simpler terms?

You can use phrases like "didn't finish", "failed to end", or "left undone" as simpler alternatives to "failure to complete" depending on the specific context.

What are the consequences of "failure to complete" a project?

The consequences of "failure to complete" can range from project delays and financial losses to damaged reputation and legal repercussions, varying based on the project's nature and importance.

Is there a difference between "failure to complete" and "failure to start"?

"Failure to complete" implies that an attempt was made but the task wasn't finished, while "failure to start" means that the task was never initiated. The former suggests some effort was expended, while the latter indicates a lack of initiation. You can also use "failure to initiate" instead.

What verbs typically follow "failure to complete"?

Verbs commonly following "failure to complete" include verbs which suggest a consequence like "resulted", "led", or "caused", to further clarify the effect of not finishing the task. An example would be "Failure to complete the task resulted in penalties".