it was failure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was failure" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or event that did not succeed or meet expectations. Example: "Despite our best efforts, it was failure that defined the project, leading us to reevaluate our approach."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

And that is what it was: failure.

The Guardian - Sport

Or maybe it failed, but it was failure in an area where learning is very relevant.

The New York Times

Yet, as Hardy grew older, it was failure that increasingly occupied his thoughts and inspired his best writing.

The New Yorker

If the cloth wasn't on the table when he arrived home from the colliery, it was failure on an epic scale as far as she was concerned.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And it was failure: the complete failure of the world's politicians to have a plan for a conflict that has claimed 191,000 lives and created more than three million refugees.

Independent

Eric's father was a big, thickset man, and a proud one: "When they lived in the countryside in Staffordshire, he would go out with a shotgun and two cartridges to get dinner at night, and if he came back having had to use both cartridges it was failure".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

It's failure.

The Guardian - Sport

And if it's anything but gold, it's failure.

The New York Times - Sports

"Poverty is depression, it's failure, it's sadness, it's low self-esteem," said Ms. Collins.

The New York Times - Health

If we're being honest, it's failure.

TechCrunch

It is failure in front of everyone.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was failure", ensure the context clearly defines what 'it' refers to, avoiding ambiguity. For instance, specify: "The project, despite our efforts, it was failure."

Common error

Avoid using "it was failure" repetitively without varying your sentence structure or providing specific details. Instead of saying "The strategy failed, it was failure", try "The strategy's failure stemmed from poor planning."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was failure" primarily functions as a statement expressing a negative outcome or lack of success. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase can be used to directly assert that something resulted in failure. Example: "And that is what it was failure: the complete failure of the world's politicians to have a plan..."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was failure" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression to describe a negative outcome or lack of success. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous real-world examples, particularly in news and media, science and formal contexts. While versatile, its impact can be enhanced by specifying the subject to avoid ambiguity. Though straightforward, the phrase's consistent presence in varied sources establishes its reliability in communicating a lack of success.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it constituted a failure

Replaces "was" with "constituted", adding a degree of formality.

it represented a failure

Substitutes "was" with "represented", emphasizing the symbolic nature of the failure.

it amounted to failure

Replaces "was" with "amounted to", suggesting the culmination of events led to failure.

it ended in failure

Focuses on the outcome, using "ended in" to show the final result.

it resulted in failure

Highlights the consequence, indicating that failure was the direct result.

it proved to be a failure

Emphasizes that failure was confirmed over time.

it turned out to be a failure

Indicates that the failure was revealed unexpectedly.

it was a debacle

Replaces "failure" with "debacle", suggesting a more chaotic and embarrassing failure.

it was an unsuccessful attempt

Rephrases the statement to highlight the lack of success in a specific attempt.

it didn't succeed

Offers a simpler, more direct way to express the lack of success.

FAQs

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

You can use "it was failure" to describe an outcome that did not meet expectations. For example: "Despite the team's hard work, "it was failure" that ultimately defined the project".

What are some alternatives to "it was failure"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it was a failure", "it resulted in failure", or "it ended in failure", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it was failure" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it was failure" is grammatically correct, though it is often used with a more specific noun phrase, such as "it was a complete failure" or "it was a failure of imagination".

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

"It was failure" emphasizes the state or condition of failure, while "it was a failure" refers to a specific instance or event that failed.