had failed to catch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had failed to catch" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something did not succeed in capturing or seizing an opportunity or an object in the past. Example: "Despite his best efforts, he had failed to catch the bus on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

The lock, though, had failed to catch.

The New York Times

She was dead and the investigative team had failed to catch the killers.

The New York Times

A trap baited with a mouse had failed to catch the snake by Thursday, and the plane remained grounded.

The Guardian

He said that Mr. de Blasio's policies risked driving wealthy people out of the city, and that Mr. Lhota had failed to catch fire as a candidate.

The New York Times

In a gag reminiscent of one in "School of Rock," Jones's character had attempted to stage-dive, but the crowd had failed to catch her.

The New Yorker

The report's authors estimated that before being shut down, their own "arrest-related deaths" count had failed to catch about 51% of cases.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

But they have failed to catch on in the United States.

The New York Times

This may be why thus far these products have failed to catch on in the United States.

The New York Times

Jones's suggestion was "preservationist," a term that, so far, has failed to catch on.

The New Yorker

But there's an equally long list of vital innovations that have failed to catch on.

The New Yorker

So far it has failed to catch the two Palestinian men named as chief suspects.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had failed to catch", ensure the context clearly indicates what was missed or unsuccessfully captured, whether it's a literal object, an opportunity, or a concept.

Common error

Avoid using "had failed to catch" in situations where the attempt was never realistically possible. The phrase implies a reasonable expectation of success that was not met.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had failed to catch" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating an action that did not succeed before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in English, with examples showing its application in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

6%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had failed to catch" is a grammatically sound and commonly used past perfect verb phrase that conveys a lack of success or a missed opportunity in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, showing its presence across various contexts such as news media and encyclopedias. It is generally appropriate for neutral register, though its versatility allows its use in more formal and informal contexts. While the phrase itself is correct, always ensure that the context supports the implication of an attempted but unsuccessful effort.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not manage to catch

Emphasizes the lack of successful management or ability to catch something.

were unable to catch

Highlights the inability to catch something due to circumstances or limitations.

had been unsuccessful in catching

Formally states the lack of success in catching something.

didn't succeed in catching

A more informal way to express the lack of success in catching something.

missed the opportunity to catch

Focuses on the missed chance to catch something.

were remiss in catching

Suggests negligence or oversight in not catching something.

omitted to catch

Implies a deliberate or unintentional oversight in catching something.

failed to seize

Replaces "catch" with "seize", emphasizing the failure to take hold of something.

lost the chance to catch

Highlights the loss of an opportunity to catch something.

were deficient in catching

Indicates a shortcoming or inadequacy in catching something.

FAQs

How can I use "had failed to catch" in a sentence?

You can use "had failed to catch" to indicate a past inability to seize something, whether literally or figuratively. For example, "The goalkeeper "had failed to catch" the ball" or "The company "had failed to catch" the changing market trends".

What are some alternatives to "had failed to catch"?

Alternatives include "did not manage to catch", "were unable to catch", or "had been unsuccessful in catching", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Which is correct, "had failed to catch" or "failed to have caught"?

"Had failed to catch" is generally the preferred construction. "Failed to have caught" is less common and may sound awkward in many contexts. Use ""had failed to catch"" to simply express a past failure to catch something.

What's the difference between "had failed to catch" and "failed to catch"?

"Had failed to catch" uses the past perfect tense, indicating that the failure occurred before another point in the past. "Failed to catch" uses the simple past tense and describes a general failure in the past. The past perfect adds a sense of prior completion or precedence of the failure.