failure to which

USAGE SUMMARY

"failure to which" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to introduce a clause that explains the consequences of something, or to set up additional information related to a previous statement. For example: The pressure continued to mount, failure to which would result in a drop in morale.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

It was the colossal failure to which all future failures would be compared.

The New York Times

Demons, too, empowered by years of British failure, to which Henman added his inability to close out Ivanisevic in a fourth-set tie breaker.

The New York Times - Sports

He failed to get into Pop, the school's set of prefects, and the fear of failure to which he admits may stem from not clearing this hurdle.

Independent

"We have asked the UNHCR to relocate the refugees in three months, failure to which we shall relocate them ourselves," said Ruto. "The way America changed after 9/11 is the way Kenya will change after Garissa… We must secure this country at whatever cost".

The Guardian

But there was another bank run shortly after Corpbank's failure, to which the BNB's response was very different.

Forbes

Owuor (2007) concurs that the Luo community put a lot of pressure on women to be inherited, failure to which they could not go into people's homes.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

They are yet another manifestation of the need for economic policies to be attuned to the failures to which markets are prone, and to be tailored to the specific circumstances of each country.

The Guardian

Crash industrialization was less disastrous in its effects, but it, too, numbered its grandiose failures, to which Stalin responded by arraigning industrial managers in a succession of show trials.

Britannica

The ensuing tragedy stems from her father's failure to forgive, which leads, via plot and counter-plot, to her husband torturing and executing him behind her back.

The Guardian - Music

censured or struck off by the relevant regulatory authority or professional body for actions or failures to act which are directly relevant to the granting of the honour.

The Guardian - Business

Simple failures to coordinate which mean nothing in an office environment can be fatal in a hazardous one.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "failure to which", ensure the connection between the failure and its consequence is clear and logical. Avoid ambiguity by placing the phrase directly before the clause it modifies.

Common error

Avoid confusing "failure to which" with simpler causal conjunctions like "therefore" or "as a result". "Failure to which" is more precise, directly linking a specific failure to its subsequent outcome. Using a more general phrase can weaken this direct connection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failure to which" functions as a causal connector, linking a specific instance of failure to its direct consequence. As Ludwig AI states, it introduces a clause explaining the consequences or setting up additional information related to a previous statement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Failure to which" is a causal connector used to directly link a failure with its consequence. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and utility in formal writing. While not as common as simpler alternatives, it provides precision in expressing cause-and-effect relationships. Its primary contexts are news, science and academic, indicating a formal register. When using this phrase, ensure clarity and avoid substituting with more generic connectors if a strong, direct link is intended. Remember to use related phrases such as "failure resulting in" or "failure leading to" when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failure resulting in

This alternative is focused on direct consequence, indicating what immediately follows the failure.

failure leading to

This alternative highlights the sequential nature of the failure and its outcome.

in the event of failure, resulting in

This alternative expands on the conditionality, emphasizing the potential for failure and its subsequent result.

should it fail, then

This alternative introduces a more conditional and slightly more formal tone, replacing 'to which' with a straightforward 'then'.

on failing, consequently

This alternative uses a gerund to describe the failure and 'consequently' to show the resulting action.

the failure causes

This alternative phrase is more direct, focusing on the causation of the failure.

failure, and as a result

This alternative clearly indicates a cause-and-effect relationship.

the implication of failure being

This alternative is more verbose, drawing attention to the implications of the failure.

if it were to fail, the outcome would be

This alternative adds a hypothetical scenario and specifies the outcome.

due to its failure, it follows that

This alternative emphasizes the reasoning that connects the failure to the subsequent event.

FAQs

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

Use "failure to which" to introduce a clause explaining the direct consequence of a specific failure. For example, "The system requires daily backups, failure to which would result in data loss."

What are some alternatives to "failure to which"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "failure resulting in", "failure leading to", or "in the event of failure, resulting in".

Is "failure to which" formal or informal?

"Failure to which" is generally considered a formal phrase. It is more common in academic, professional, or news contexts rather than informal conversation.

Is it correct to say "failure of which" instead of "failure to which"?

While "failure of which" might be grammatically correct in some contexts, "failure to which" is more commonly used to specifically link a failure with its direct consequence or result.