failure to propose

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failure to propose" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone did not make a suggestion or offer, often in formal or legal discussions. Example: "The committee's failure to propose a new policy has left many issues unresolved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Some still exaggerate fears of market failure to propose excessive interference by regulators.

The Guardian

Also disappointing was his failure to propose increased American financing for the expanded bomb fuel elimination program.

The New York Times

ASSAILS BOOK PUBLISHERS Sees Evidence of Insincerity in the Failure to Propose a Remedy for the Situation.

The New York Times

But the British position has also been undermined by a failure to propose any detailed CAP reforms of its own.

The Economist

The words of support marked an important shift from just two weeks ago, when the foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, described himself as "angrily frustrated" by the administration's failure to propose a new peace initiative.

The New York Times

The plans are disappointing for their lack of specificity, and their failure to propose substantial increases in funding and staff for agencies whose inspection capabilities have been starved in recent years.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

We build on the sparse nature of the binary sensor failure signals to propose a novel distributed detection algorithm based on gossip mechanisms and on Group Testing (GT), where the latter has been used so far in centralized detection problems.

Signal Processing

Based on the method of separating epistemic and aleatory uncertainties in a variable, the core idea of the research is firstly to establish a novel deterministic transition model for auxiliary variables, distribution parameters, random variables, failure probability, then to propose the improved importance sampling (IS) to solve the transition model.

Chinese Journal of Aeronautics

The new law, he said, was driven in part by the American Bar Association's failure to adopt proposed changes to its own model ethical rules at its annual meeting last year.

The New York Times

Once you have played 30 games for the Under-21s you deserve a crack at the big time". The departure of Milner, who is paid substantially less than several of his Newcastle team-mates, would exacerbate Keegan's misgivings about the club's failure to negotiate proposed contract extensions for Michael Owen and Steve Harper.

The Guardian - Sport

The failure loads obtained from experiments at various loading angles are utilized to propose a failure criterion for description of failure behavior of a spot weld.

International Journal of Mechanical Sciences

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failure to propose", ensure the context clearly indicates what should have been proposed. Specificity strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "failure to propose" in casual conversations; simpler phrases like "didn't suggest" or "didn't offer" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failure to propose" functions as a noun phrase acting as the subject or object of a sentence, describing an instance where a suggestion or plan was not put forward. Ludwig AI confirms the expression is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failure to propose" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express the absence of a suggestion or plan. According to Ludwig AI, the expression is correct and usable. While versatile, it leans toward formal contexts, making it apt for news, academic, and professional discourse. The phrase carries a negative connotation, often indicating a missed opportunity or lack of initiative. Its close alternatives include "omission to suggest", "neglect to offer", and "inability to suggest", each with slightly different shades of meaning. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity about what should have been proposed and consider the formality of your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failure to put forward

Focuses on not presenting or advancing a proposal.

omission to suggest

Emphasizes the act of leaving out a suggestion.

neglect to offer

Highlights a careless oversight in providing an offer.

inability to suggest

Focuses on the lack of capacity to make a suggestion.

absence of a proposal

Simply states that there was no proposal made.

oversight in suggesting

Highlights an error in the process of suggesting something.

deficiency in offering

Points out a lack or inadequacy in making an offer.

lack of initiative to propose

Indicates a missing drive to put forward a proposal.

forgo suggesting

Highlights the act of abstaining from suggesting something.

declined to offer

Indicates a conscious decision not to make an offer.

FAQs

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

You can use "failure to propose" to indicate a lack of suggestions or initiatives. For example, "The committee's failure to propose a solution led to further delays."

What are some alternatives to "failure to propose"?

Alternatives include "omission to suggest", "neglect to offer", or "inability to suggest", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always negative to say "failure to propose"?

Yes, "failure to propose" typically carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of action or responsibility when a proposal was expected or needed.

What's the difference between "failure to propose" and "declined to offer"?

"Failure to propose" suggests a lack of action or inability, while "declined to offer" implies a conscious choice not to make an offer. The former might stem from oversight, the latter from a deliberate decision.