fall short

USAGE SUMMARY

"fall short" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that does not reach a desired outcome, such as an expectation or goal. Example: Despite their best efforts, their fundraising campaign fell short of their goal by $2,000.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They fall short.

The Economist

Why did "Leap" fall short?

The New York Times

"But we sometimes fall short".

Independent

So often we fall short.

The New York Times

That's where they fall short.

The New Yorker

Plenty of submissions fall short, however.

The New York Times

But it could still fall short.

The New York Times

No longer can we fall short.

The New York Times

"I can feel they fall short".

The New York Times - Arts

Then I saw it fall short.

The New York Times - Sports

In what ways might it fall short?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fall short", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is failing to achieve. For example, "The team's performance fell short of expectations."

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "fall short". While "fall short" itself is correct, adding unnecessary or wrong prepositions (e.g., "fall short at") can create grammatical errors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fall short" functions as an intransitive verb phrase, often followed by the preposition "of" to indicate the specific target or expectation that was not met. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fall short" is a very common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to express a failure to meet expectations or achieve a desired outcome. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. It is often followed by "of" to specify the target that was not reached. While various alternatives exist, such as "fail to reach" and "not measure up", the phrase "fall short" maintains a neutral and professional tone. Be mindful of using the correct prepositions to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come up short

A more colloquial alternative, implying a lack of something needed.

fail to reach

Emphasizes a failure in achieving a specific target or destination.

not measure up

Focuses on a comparison and a failure to meet a standard.

miss the mark

Implies a failure to achieve a desired outcome or goal.

underperform

Focuses on failing to meet expected performance levels.

be deficient

Highlights a lack or inadequacy in a particular area.

not suffice

Highlights a failure to be enough or adequate for a particular purpose.

prove inadequate

Stresses the demonstration of insufficiency or unsuitability.

be found wanting

Suggests a judgment of inadequacy or lack of required qualities.

flounder

Describes struggling and failing to progress effectively.

FAQs

How to use "fall short" in a sentence?

Use "fall short" to indicate that something or someone has failed to meet a particular standard or expectation. For example, "The company's profits "fell short" of their projected goals this quarter".

What can I say instead of "fall short"?

You can use alternatives like "fail to reach", "not measure up", or "come up short" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "fall short" and "fail"?

"Fall short" implies a failure to reach a specific standard or target, whereas "fail" is a more general term indicating a lack of success. "Fall short" often suggests a near miss, while "fail" can indicate a complete lack of success.

Is it better to say "fall short of" or "fall short in"?

"Fall short of" is the more common and generally preferred construction. It is used to indicate that something fails to reach a specific goal or standard. "Fall short in" is less common and usually refers to a specific area where something is lacking.