had failed to materialise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had failed to materialise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something did not happen or come into existence as expected or planned. Example: "The project had failed to materialise due to a lack of funding and support from stakeholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Business

Lifestyle

Tech

Opinion

Academia

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

But by November the force had failed to materialise.

The Guardian

There would be no celebrations, said an official, because the promised peace dividends had failed to materialise.

The Economist

The foreign secretary acted after Zaghari-Ratcliffe complained that promises of extra access to medical help had failed to materialise.

The Guardian

The millions he dreamed he'd make from diving had failed to materialise, unlike his second son (he now has three).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Vaught said other companies had made similar promises about jobs and revitalisation in Detroit that had failed to materialise.

The Guardian

Shares in the model soldier retailer closed nearly 12% down at 372.5p after it reported that an expected festive sales boost had failed to materialise.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

The purification has failed to materialise.

The Guardian - Opinion

However, the rush for electricals has failed to materialise.

Independent

Speculation of a surge in seats has failed to materialise.

The Guardian

And in contrast to Brasília's public infrastructure, many promised new rooms have failed to materialise.

The Economist

Most of the dangers that frightened financial markets during the year have failed to materialise.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had failed to materialise" to describe situations where an anticipated event, plan, or outcome did not occur. It's particularly effective when discussing expectations that were not met, or promises that were broken.

Common error

Avoid using "had failed to materialise" when a simple past tense is sufficient. Use it specifically to indicate that the failure occurred before another point in the past, establishing a sequence of events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had failed to materialise" functions as a verb phrase indicating the non-occurrence of a previously expected event or outcome. It signifies that something anticipated did not come into being. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Opinion

8%

Sport

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had failed to materialise" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe the non-occurrence of an expected event or outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is correct and applicable across various contexts, from formal business settings to news reports. It is especially useful when discussing unmet expectations or broken promises, and it is most impactful when the past perfect tense is required to establish the sequence of events. Keep in mind possible rephrasing alternatives such as "did not come to fruition", "did not happen", or "fell through" to adjust the level of formality or emphasis as needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not come to fruition

Emphasizes the lack of development or completion of something that was planned or expected.

did not happen

A simple and direct way of saying that something did not occur.

did not transpire

A more formal way of saying that something did not occur or become known.

did not take place

Indicates that an event or occurrence was canceled or did not happen as scheduled.

never happened

Highlights the absence of an event or occurrence, emphasizing that it did not occur at any time.

fell through

Suggests that a plan or agreement collapsed or did not succeed.

proved abortive

Indicates that an attempt or plan was unsuccessful and did not produce the desired result.

came to nothing

Implies that efforts or plans were fruitless and did not achieve any positive outcome.

was not realized

Emphasizes that a goal, ambition, or expectation was not achieved or fulfilled.

vanished into thin air

Suggests that something disappeared without a trace or explanation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "had failed to materialise"?

You can use alternatives like "did not come to fruition", "did not happen", or "fell through depending on the context.

What does "had failed to materialise" mean?

It means that something expected or planned did not happen or come into being. It implies a sense of disappointment or unfulfilled expectation.

Is it correct to say "has failed to materialise" instead of "had failed to materialise"?

The choice between "has failed to materialise" and "had failed to materialise" depends on the context. "Has failed to materialise" indicates a failure up to the present, while "had failed to materialise" indicates a failure before a specific point in the past.

How to use "had failed to materialise" in a sentence?

For example: "The promised investment "had failed to materialise", leaving the project without funding." This indicates that the failure occurred before the project was left without funding.