it was abortive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was abortive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or effort that was unsuccessful or failed to produce the desired outcome. Example: "The negotiations were lengthy, but ultimately, it was abortive, leading to no agreement between the parties."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

These results indicated that SAHA induced lytic infection in some EBV-positive T and NK cell lines, although it was abortive.

Cancer Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"This one is so cut right off it's abortive of any aspiration".

The New York Times

Based on the premise that "neurons do not divide", the notion that has emerged from this evidence is that activation of a neuronal cell cycle does exist but it is abortive, the final result being the initiation of apoptosis.

Aging

Microsoft, in the pre-iPad era, made the call that touch was next and that its core platform would support it properly; touch in Windows 7 was abortive at best.

TechCrunch

(An attempt to set up a European career, at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, was abortive and brief).

The New Yorker

And then the whole season was abortive because of the recession and Sept. 11.

The New York Times - Style

The campaign was abortive, and Charles then called a new parliament to grant the subsidies that he desperately needed for a second campaign.

Encyclopedia Britannica

To research the subject, Irish playwright Rory Mullarkey took himself off on a trip to Russia but he was mistaken for a spy by suspicious locals and the mission was abortive.

Independent

In the tested heterologous cells, infection was abortive.

Archives of Virology

Extremely rarely, a PG inflorescence was functionally male; the central basal female portion was abortive, i.e. undeveloped and dark brownish.

Annals of Botany

On the contrary, over-expression of a mutant hogg1 was abortive in protecting against oxidative damage to mtDNA in all regions analyzed.

BMC Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was abortive" to describe plans, attempts, or processes that did not achieve their intended outcome. It adds a layer of formality and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "it was abortive" in very casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "it failed" or "it didn't work" are often more appropriate and natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was abortive" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating that something failed to achieve its intended result. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. The phrase often describes plans, efforts, or initiatives that did not come to fruition, similar to the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was abortive" is a grammatically sound way to describe something that failed to achieve its intended result, confirmed by Ludwig AI. Although less common in everyday speech, it adds precision and formality, particularly in scientific, news, and encyclopedia contexts. Consider simpler alternatives like "it was unsuccessful" or "it failed" for more casual settings. While the phrase is useful for conveying failure, context and audience should be considered to ensure clarity and appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was unsuccessful

Replaces "abortive" with a more common synonym, maintaining the core meaning of failure.

it came to nothing

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate that efforts were futile.

it failed to materialize

Emphasizes the lack of a concrete result or outcome.

it didn't succeed

Offers a simple and direct way to express failure.

it proved fruitless

Highlights the lack of positive results despite effort.

it was in vain

Suggests that efforts were ultimately pointless or without value.

it fell flat

Indicates a complete lack of success or impact.

it backfired

Suggests that the action had an unintended and negative consequence.

it miscarried

Implies a failure in execution or planning, especially in formal contexts.

it was unproductive

Focuses on the lack of output or progress.

FAQs

How can I use "it was abortive" in a sentence?

Use "it was abortive" to describe actions, efforts, or initiatives that did not succeed in achieving their goal. For instance, "The negotiation attempts were lengthy, but "it was abortive", leading to no agreement."

What can I say instead of "it was abortive"?

You can use alternatives like "it was unsuccessful", "it failed", or "it was fruitless" depending on the specific context.

Is "it was abortive" formal or informal?

"It was abortive" is generally considered a more formal expression. In casual conversation, simpler alternatives like "it didn't work" or "it failed" may be more suitable.

What's the difference between "it was abortive" and "it was unsuccessful"?

While both phrases indicate a lack of success, "it was abortive" often implies a premature termination or a failure to fully develop. "It was unsuccessful" is a broader term that simply means the desired outcome was not achieved.