has failed

USAGE SUMMARY

"has failed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone or something has been unsuccessful or unsuccessful in achieving something. For example, "Despite his best efforts, John's attempt to pass his driving test has failed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Clearly, rehabilitation has failed".

The New York Times

"Persuasion has failed.

The New York Times

Socialism has failed.

The New York Times

The attempt has failed.

The New York Times

This president has failed.

The New Yorker

McDowell has failed.

Independent

That approach has failed.

The Economist

"Communism has failed.

The New York Times

The coup has failed.

The New Yorker

But it has failed.

The New York Times - Sports

This government has failed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has failed" to clearly indicate that an attempt, plan, or system has not achieved its intended goal. Ensure the subject and context clearly define what specifically "has failed".

Common error

Avoid using "has failed" without specifying what exactly has failed. Vague statements can confuse the reader. Instead of saying "The project has failed", specify "The project to reduce carbon emissions has failed to meet its goals".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has failed" functions as a present perfect verb phrase, indicating that an action or event has not achieved its intended outcome or goal. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has failed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used present perfect verb phrase that indicates the lack of success or achievement of something. As Ludwig AI states, it's a correct and usable phrase in English. The usage spans across various contexts, with a strong presence in news and media, reflecting its role in reporting and analyzing unsuccessful events or endeavors. When using this phrase, it's essential to provide specific context to avoid ambiguity and ensure clarity. Alternatives like "was unsuccessful" or "did not succeed" can offer nuanced ways to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was unsuccessful

Replaces the verb "has failed" with a more descriptive adjective phrase, indicating a lack of success.

did not succeed

Uses a more straightforward and common alternative to express the lack of achievement.

proved ineffective

Highlights the lack of effectiveness as the reason for failure.

fell short

Emphasizes the inability to reach a required standard or target.

came to naught

A more formal way of saying that something has been unsuccessful or has achieved nothing.

was in vain

Indicates that the effort put in was ultimately useless and did not produce the desired outcome.

yielded no results

Focuses on the absence of any positive outcome or consequences.

did not work

A simple, direct way to express that something was not successful.

backfired

Implies that the action taken had the opposite of the intended effect.

collapsed

Focuses on the fact that something abruptly failed.

FAQs

How can I use "has failed" in a sentence?

You can use "has failed" to indicate that something has been unsuccessful in achieving its intended outcome. For example, "The experiment "has failed" to produce the desired results".

What are some alternatives to "has failed"?

Alternatives include "was unsuccessful", "did not succeed", or "proved ineffective" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "has failed" or "failed"?

The choice depends on the context. "Failed" is simpler and often sufficient, while "has failed" emphasizes that the failure has already occurred and has implications in the present.

What's the difference between "has failed" and "was a failure"?

"Has failed" describes an action or attempt that did not succeed, whereas "was a failure" describes something that is inherently unsuccessful or of poor quality. For example, "The mission "has failed"" vs "The product "was a failure"".