have fallen short

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have fallen short" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used when someone has not achieved the desired goal or has not reached the expected level. For example: "Although we worked hard to reach the target, we have fallen short and need to look for more resources in order to make up for it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But they have fallen short.

The New York Times

Yet other projects have fallen short.

The New York Times - Arts

Pledges by nations have fallen short.

The New York Times

But more ambitious measures have fallen short.

The Washington Post

Current approaches to addressing obesity have fallen short.

Journal of Consumer Psychology

Other efforts, too, have fallen short.

The New York Times

"Changes have fallen short of our expectations.

The New York Times

Even the government's most dramatic crackdowns have fallen short.

The New York Times

So far, those expectations have fallen short, he said.

The New York Times

But so far, the country's efforts have fallen short.

The New York Times

But its offers have fallen short of independent valuations.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have fallen short" when you want to express that something didn't reach the expected level or standard. It's suitable for describing results, efforts, or expectations that were not fully realized.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses (e.g., "had fallen short" when "have fallen short" is appropriate for the current context) or subject-verb agreement errors (e.g., "it have fallen short" instead of "it has fallen short").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have fallen short" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a present perfect construction. It indicates that an action or event (falling short) has occurred at some point in the past and has relevance to the present. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and provides examples from varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have fallen short" is a versatile verb phrase used to express a failure to meet expectations or achieve a desired outcome. Ludwig AI analysis and the provided examples indicate that it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including news, science, and business. The phrase is generally neutral in register, making it appropriate for both formal and semi-formal communication. It's important to use the correct tense and ensure subject-verb agreement to avoid common errors. Alternatives such as ""have failed to achieve"" or ""have not met expectations"" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have failed to achieve

Focuses specifically on the failure to accomplish something.

have come up short

Similar in meaning, but slightly more informal.

have not met expectations

Highlights the discrepancy between what was anticipated and what was actually achieved.

have not lived up to

Emphasizes a failure to maintain a certain standard or reputation.

have underperformed

Implies a measurable goal that was not achieved.

have proven inadequate

Suggests that something was not sufficient or suitable for a particular purpose.

have been insufficient

Highlights the lack of required quantity or quality.

have not sufficed

Similar to "have been insufficient", but implies a basic level of necessity was not met.

have missed the mark

A more figurative way of saying something was not accurate or successful.

have been deficient

Highlights a lack in a necessary quality or component.

FAQs

How can I use "have fallen short" in a sentence?

You can use "have fallen short" to indicate that efforts, results, or expectations were not fully met. For example, "Despite our best efforts, we "have fallen short" of our fundraising goal."

What are some alternatives to "have fallen short"?

Alternatives include "have failed to achieve", "have not met expectations", and "have come up short". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "have fallen short" or "has fallen short"?

"Have fallen short" is used with plural subjects or the pronouns I, you, we, and they. "Has fallen short" is used with singular subjects (except I and you) and the pronouns he, she, and it. For example, "They "have fallen short"" versus "He "has fallen short"".

What's the difference between "have fallen short" and "have failed"?

"Have failed" is a more general term indicating a complete lack of success. "Have fallen short" suggests that there was some effort or progress, but the desired outcome was not fully achieved. "We "have fallen short"" implies a smaller degree of failure than "We "have failed"".