has failed to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has failed to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone or something did not succeed in accomplishing a specific task or goal. Example: "The company has failed to meet its quarterly revenue targets, leading to concerns about its financial stability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Parliament has failed to oblige.

The Economist

He has failed to manage the city.

The New York Times

A flawed democracy has failed to deliver.

Independent

It too has failed to thrive.

The Economist

This the BJP has failed to deliver.

The Economist

The Senate has failed to act.

The New York Times

He has failed to do so.

The Economist

This President Obama has failed to do.

The New York Times

It has failed to do so.

The Economist

Yet Nigeria has failed to industrialise.

The Economist

He has failed to rebalance the economy.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has failed to", ensure that the subject and the action it failed to perform are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For instance, instead of saying "The project has failed to", specify what the project failed to do, such as "The project has failed to meet its deadline".

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses or subject-verb agreement when constructing sentences with "has failed to". Ensure the subject agrees with the verb "has" and that the subsequent verb is in the correct infinitive form. Example: Incorrect: "They has failed to deliver." Correct: "They have failed to deliver."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has failed to" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating a lack of success or inability to achieve a specific outcome. Ludwig examples show it's often used to report on unfulfilled expectations or unmet goals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has failed to" is a versatile and frequently used verb phrase, predominantly found in news and media contexts. It serves to report or inform about the lack of success in achieving a specific goal, as evidenced by numerous Ludwig examples. While grammatically correct and widely accepted, as stated by Ludwig AI, it is essential to ensure proper tense and subject-verb agreement when using this phrase. For more formal contexts, alternatives like "did not succeed in" might be more appropriate. When you use this phrase ensure that the subject and the action it failed to perform are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not succeed in

Emphasizes the lack of success in achieving something.

was unable to

Focuses on the inability to perform an action.

did not manage to

Highlights a lack of effort or ability to achieve a goal.

proved incapable of

Suggests an inherent inability to accomplish something.

fell short of

Indicates a failure to reach a specific target or standard.

was unsuccessful in

A more formal way of saying did not succeed.

could not achieve

Focuses on the unattained outcome.

did not accomplish

Highlights a lack of completion of a task.

missed the mark

Suggests a failure to meet expectations or achieve a desired result.

lacked the ability to

Emphasizes the absence of the necessary skills or resources.

FAQs

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

Use "has failed to" to indicate that someone or something did not succeed in achieving a particular goal or completing a task. For example, "The company "has failed to" meet its quarterly targets".

What are some alternatives to using "has failed to"?

You can use alternatives such as "did not succeed in", "was unable to", or "did not manage to" depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

Is there a difference between "has failed to" and "failed to"?

"Has failed to" implies a more recent or ongoing failure, while "failed to" can refer to a failure in the past. For example, "The system "has failed to" operate correctly since the update" suggests a current issue, whereas "The system failed to operate correctly yesterday" indicates a past incident.

Which is more formal, "has failed to" or "did not succeed in"?

"Did not succeed in" is generally considered more formal than "has failed to". In formal writing or business communication, "did not succeed in" might be preferred to convey a sense of professionalism.