failure to respond

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failure to respond" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to convey the idea that someone either did not or could not respond or act in some way. For example: The company's failure to respond to customer complaints resulted in a significant drop in business.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

But tolerance is a failure to respond.

The New York Times - Magazine

And what did Walters make of Adario's failure to respond?

Harvard Business Review

He has been widely derided for his failure to respond adequately to the crises.

The Guardian - Opinion

The letters warn that "failure to respond could result in higher interest rates and increased payments".

The New York Times

Carter's failure to respond in kind to harsh words addressed to him by Mixico's Pres.

The New Yorker

Not every failure to respond to subdivision (6) interrogatories warrants an order striking the claim.

Cornell University

The other mistake was the failure to respond quickly and aggressively enough to that rising.

The Guardian

The Bush administration's failure to respond forcefully to Hurricane Katrina elicited accusations of third world governance.

The Guardian - Opinion

What caused such a massive failure to respond to the needs of 3.5 million U.S. citizens?

The Washington Post

Failure to respond to a restrictive instruction automatically initiates both power reduction and braking.

Britannica

The British government has been accused of a failure to respond speedily to the devastation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failure to respond", specify the consequences or implications of this inaction to provide context and emphasize the significance.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice when a more direct statement clarifies responsibility. Instead of "There was a failure to respond", consider "The agency failed to respond" to highlight who was responsible for the inaction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failure to respond" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the state of not providing a reaction or answer. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failure to respond" is a versatile noun phrase used to describe the absence of a reaction or answer. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence across diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. Its neutral to formal register makes it suitable for professional communication, while its function is to highlight inaction or lack of communication. When employing this phrase, consider the specific implications of the inaction and ensure clarity by specifying the responsible party. Alternatives such as "lack of response" or "non-responsiveness" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no response

A more succinct and direct way of stating that there was no answer or reaction.

lack of response

This alternative emphasizes the absence of a reaction or answer.

absence of reply

Similar to "lack of response", but emphasizes a complete lack of communication back.

non-responsiveness

This term highlights a general lack of willingness or ability to respond.

inability to react

This focuses on the lack of capacity to have a reaction.

omission to reply

This alternative specifically refers to the act of not sending a response.

neglect to answer

This phrase implies a careless or intentional overlooking of the need to answer.

failure to acknowledge

Similar to omission to acknowledge with a slightly increased formality.

default of reaction

This suggests a missed or absent expected reaction.

omission to acknowledge

This focuses on not recognizing or accepting something, rather than a direct reply.

FAQs

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

You can use "failure to respond" to describe a situation where someone or something did not react or answer as expected. For instance, "The company's "failure to respond" to customer inquiries led to dissatisfaction".

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

You can use alternatives like "lack of response", "non-responsiveness", or "inability to react" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "failure to respond" or "failure of responding"?

"Failure to respond" is the correct and more commonly used phrase. "Failure of responding" is grammatically awkward and less idiomatic.

What's the difference between "failure to respond" and "failure to acknowledge"?

"Failure to respond" generally means not reacting or answering in any way, while "failure to acknowledge" suggests not recognizing or admitting something, which might not necessarily involve a direct response.