kept failing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'kept failing' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone has repeatedly failed to do something. For example, "He kept failing his math tests and eventually decided to get a tutor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No doubt this helped to protect many boys, but in many other instances the system failed, and it kept failing.

The New York Times

I kept failing miserably.

The New Yorker

We kept failing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

His faded mind kept failing him.

The New York Times

I kept failing at the audition stage.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I kept failing to protect her from our primitive ways.

The New Yorker

PH: Well I just kept failing in TV.

The Guardian - Film

"I tried to stop for ages, but I kept trying and kept failing".

Independent

I kept failing drugs tests, or they'd find drugs in my cell".

The Guardian

They kept failing to react to the commotion between the mothers.

The New York Times

Sabathia looked uncomfortable, a pitcher who kept trying to be his effective self and kept failing.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kept failing" to clearly convey repeated unsuccessful attempts, adding emphasis on the continuous nature of the failure.

Common error

While "kept failing" is acceptable, in more formal writing, consider using synonyms like "persistently failed" or "repeatedly failed" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kept failing" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a continuous action in the past. This is supported by Ludwig examples, where it describes ongoing unsuccessful attempts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "kept failing" is a grammatically correct and very common verb phrase used to describe repeated unsuccessful attempts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for general usage, especially in news and media contexts. For more formal writing, consider using alternatives like "persistently failed" or "repeatedly failed". Remember, while "kept failing" emphasizes the ongoing nature of failure, focusing on clear communication and context is key to effective writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

persistently failed

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the failures with a more formal tone.

repeatedly failed

Highlights the recurrence of failure, focusing on the number of times.

consistently failed

Indicates a pattern of failure in similar situations or contexts.

continually failed

Similar to 'repeatedly failed', but suggests a more unbroken sequence of failures.

incessantly failed

Stresses the continuous and seemingly endless nature of the failures.

habitually failed

Implies a tendency or habit of failing in specific actions or tasks.

always failed

Suggests that success was never achieved; the failures were constant.

never succeeded

Focuses on the absence of success rather than the presence of repeated failures.

couldn't manage to succeed

Expresses an inability to achieve success, even with effort.

was always unsuccessful

Highlights the constant lack of success in various endeavors.

FAQs

How can I use "kept failing" in a sentence?

You can use "kept failing" to describe repeated unsuccessful attempts. For example, "The team "kept failing" to score, leading to their defeat."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "kept failing"?

Alternatives include "repeatedly failed", "persistently failed", or "consistently failed", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "kept failing"?

Yes, "kept failing" is grammatically correct. "Kept" is the past tense of "keep", and "failing" is the present participle, forming a continuous aspect in the past.

What is the difference between "kept failing" and "failed repeatedly"?

"Kept failing" emphasizes the continuous nature of the failures, while "failed repeatedly" simply highlights the number of times failure occurred. The first puts emphasis on the continuous aspect of the failure, the second on how many times that happened.