failure to notice

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failure to notice" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone did not observe or recognize something important. Example: "The failure to notice the warning signs led to a serious accident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

The ISC was facing widespread criticism for its failure to notice any real problems over the previous nine years.

The Guardian - Opinion

A valuation is not required to be sufficiently detailed to give you grounds for complaint for a failure to notice rising damp on this scale.

The Guardian - Money

But the most curious flaw in the descriptivists' reasoning is their failure to notice that it is now they who are doing the prescribing.

The New Yorker

Mr Nukaga's only mistake was his failure to notice the landmine lurking beneath a defence scandal that has now blown up in his face.

The Economist

It is inevitable that they will sleep with each other, but as important as this crime is Joanne's failure to notice her daughter's sexual awakening.

Independent

The failure to notice and reward talent in minority artists was the latest in a wave of film and music awards to cause outrage by ignoring non-white entrants.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

The literature review highlighted instances of patient neglect that occurred through communication errors between staff, or shared failures to notice or take action on irregular or problematic aspects of patient care [ 37, 44, 45].

BMC Health Services Research

Failures to notice the presence of this tone (i.e., inattentional deafness) reached a rate of 79% in the high-visual-load condition, significantly more than in the low-load condition.

Attention, Perception & Psychophysics

These range from failures to recognize meaningful distractor objects (Jenkins, Lavie, & Driver, 2005; Lavie, Lin, Zokaei, & Thoma, 2009) to failures to notice the mere presence of stimuli (Carmel, Saker, Rees, & Lavie, 2007; Cartwright-Finch & Lavie, 2007; Macdonald & Lavie, 2008; Neisser & Becklen, 1975; Simons & Chabris, 1999).

Attention, Perception & Psychophysics

Far more worrisome would be a decision by Pyongyang to export its nuclear technology and a failure by Americans to notice.

The New York Times

But to date there has been an alarming failure among commentators to notice the huge bottom-up economic successes we've enjoyed in the UK.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failure to notice", ensure the context clearly indicates what should have been observed and the consequences of not observing it. This provides a clearer understanding of the oversight.

Common error

Avoid focusing solely on who failed to notice something without explaining why it was missed or the implications of the oversight. Balance the focus to clarify both the action and its significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failure to notice" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes an instance where someone does not observe or recognize something. Ludwig provides examples where it highlights oversights with negative consequences.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failure to notice" is a versatile noun phrase used to describe an oversight or lack of awareness. Ludwig AI indicates that it’s considered grammatically correct and usable in written English. It appears frequently in diverse sources, including news, scientific articles, and encyclopedias. While "failure to notice" is common, consider using alternatives like "oversight" or "neglect to observe" for variety. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity about what was missed and its implications. Avoiding overemphasis on the actor and focusing on both the action and its significance will improve clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

oversight

This is a general term for failing to notice something important.

neglect to observe

Emphasizes a lack of attention or care in observing something.

overlooking

Indicates a casual or unintentional failure to see something important.

lack of awareness

Highlights the absence of knowledge or perception.

blindness to

Highlights a lack of recognition or understanding.

inadvertence

Implies that the failure to notice was unintentional or accidental.

omission

Suggests something was left out or not included in one's perception.

missing

States directly the act of not spotting something

disregarding

Suggests that there was a conscious decision of not paying attention to something

unmindfulness

It's the failure to be conscious or aware

FAQs

How can I use "failure to notice" in a sentence?

You can use "failure to notice" to describe an oversight or lack of awareness. For example: "The pilot's failure to notice the storm clouds led to a turbulent flight."

What are some alternatives to "failure to notice"?

You can use alternatives like "oversight", "neglect to observe", or "lack of awareness" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "failure to notice" or "failed to notice"?

Both phrases are correct, but "failure to notice" functions as a noun phrase, while "failed to notice" is a verb phrase. The choice depends on the sentence structure. For example: "His failure to notice the sign was a mistake" versus "He failed to notice the sign".

What's the difference between "failure to perceive" and "failure to notice"?

"Failure to perceive" implies a deeper lack of sensory input or understanding, while "failure to notice" suggests a simple oversight. You might "fail to perceive" subtle nuances in a complex argument, but "fail to notice" a flashing light.