failure to explain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failure to explain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is not providing adequate explanations or justifications for something. Example: "The report was criticized for its failure to explain the underlying causes of the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Butterfly's failure to explain or apologize is characteristic.

The New Yorker

What shines through all the reviews is a baffled anger at Pinter's failure to explain himself.

The Guardian - Books

Its weakness lies in its failure to explain why, at critical junctures, we disown that knowledge.

The New York Times - Books

Perriello bemoaned the Democrats' failure to explain the Recovery Act to the American people.

The New Yorker

Nor does its routine failure to explain the too-frequent deaths of the Kremlin's critics.

The Economist

He told the Express & Star newspaper: "There's been a wholesale failure to explain to people the changes that are happening.

The Guardian

But part of it stems from the government's clumsy failure to explain clearly what it is doing.

The Economist

However, the Tories failure to explain the role when they launched it has left not only the wider public still unclear.

The Guardian

He seemed particularly annoyed at the agency's failure to explain why it had "flip-flopped" on Wyoming's plan, which allows unregulated hunting on most state lands.

The New York Times

They also deplore the Treasury's failure to explain what it is doing to persuade the MoD to comply with official financial reporting standards.

The Guardian

A failure to explain sufficiently to the public what is being done in their name has bred a climate of mistrust, she implied.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failure to explain", ensure that the context clearly indicates what needs explanation and the consequences of not providing it. This enhances clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "failure to explain" without specifying what is not being explained. Ensure the subject of the explanation is clear to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failure to explain" functions as a noun phrase often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It indicates a deficiency in providing sufficient clarification or reasoning. Ludwig AI demonstrates its usage in various contexts, from political analysis to scientific discourse.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Encyclopedias

7%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failure to explain" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that indicates a deficiency in providing sufficient clarification or reasoning. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is versatile and appears in a variety of contexts, particularly in news and media, encyclopedias and science. The phrase has a neutral to professional tone and is used to express criticism or highlight shortcomings. To maximize clarity, be sure to specify what needs to be explained when using the expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failure to justify

Highlights the lack of proper defense or reason for actions or beliefs.

inability to clarify

Focuses on the lack of capacity or skill to make something clear.

lack of explanation

Emphasizes the absence of an explanatory account.

omission of details

Highlights the act of leaving out important information.

neglect to elucidate

Stresses the act of failing to bring light to something that is confusing.

unaccounted for

Highlights something not being explained or justified.

oversight in justification

Focuses on the error of not providing a proper defense or reason.

deficiency in reasoning

Points to a flaw or inadequacy in the logic provided.

shortcoming in exposition

Highlights the weakness in presenting information clearly and comprehensively.

unexplained absence

Focuses on the absence of a reason or justification for something.

FAQs

How to use "failure to explain" in a sentence?

You can use "failure to explain" to indicate a lack of providing sufficient clarification. For example: "The project's "failure to explain" the risks led to its rejection".

What can I say instead of "failure to explain"?

You can use alternatives like "inability to clarify", "lack of explanation", or "omission of details" depending on the specific context.

Is "failure to explain" formal or informal?

"Failure to explain" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts, often used in news, academic, and professional settings. However, depending on the goal you want to achieve it can also be replaced by more informal alternatives such as "didn't explain" or "was unable to explain".

What's the difference between "failure to explain" and "failure to justify"?

"Failure to explain" indicates a lack of providing clarification, while "failure to justify" refers to not providing a valid reason or defense. Explanation focuses on understanding, justification focuses on acceptability.