liable to fail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "liable to fail" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, plan, or system that is likely to experience failure or problems. Example: "The project is ambitious, but it is also liable to fail if we do not secure adequate funding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It is liable to fail to deliver on that promise.

The New York Times

Moreover, any attempt by Israel to force the collapse of Hamas's government is liable to fail.

The Economist

They are defect-sensitive materials liable to fail by fast fracture from defects well before they can yield.

Engineering Materials 1 An Introduction to Properties, Applications and Design

Since most matches arranged in such a way are liable to fail, the Internet may generally be introducing singles to even more people they don't particularly like.

The Economist

Many of the arrangements used are problematic: either they produce results that are very sensitive to electrode placement, change the potential distribution, do not provide a uniform current density and overpotential at the electrode or require delicate patterns liable to fail.

Electrochimica Acta

The Green Deal has been under scrutiny in Downing Street this afternoon after warnings that it is liable to fail.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Nevertheless, all too often, tripartite relationships between the government, industry, and academia will unavoidably be fraught with uncertainty and projects are liable to fall short or fail (Zomer et al. 2010).

Triple Helix

Bowls are liable to break.

WikiHow

If you fail to make these points readily apparent to your reader, even the best networking lead is liable to fall flat.

HuffPost

Although this had been anticipated at the design stage, the overall consequence was that the inside cylinder had a tendency to give more power than the other two as speed increased leading to the overloading of the inside connecting rod bearings, especially the big-end which was liable to overheat and fail.

Wikipedia

In all, fewer than 20 states have enacted laws to hold adults criminally liable if they fail to store guns safely, enabling children to access them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "liable to fail", ensure the context clearly indicates what is likely to fail and why. This provides clarity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "liable to fail" when the outcome is highly uncertain or speculative. The phrase implies a significant probability of failure, so ensure your assessment is grounded in evidence or reasonable assumptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "liable to fail" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive. It modifies a noun or pronoun to express a significant probability or risk of failure. As per Ludwig AI, the phrase is perfectly usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "liable to fail" is a grammatically sound phrase used to convey a significant probability of failure. According to Ludwig AI, it's appropriate for written English and finds usage across various domains, including news, science, and business. While "likely to fail" and "prone to failure" serve as suitable alternatives, be mindful of the specific nuances they bring. When employing "liable to fail", ensure that the context provides a clear understanding of what might fail and why to strengthen the impact of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

likely to fail

Replaces "liable" with "likely", indicating a high probability of failure.

prone to failure

Uses "prone" instead of "liable", suggesting an inherent tendency towards failure.

at risk of failing

Emphasizes the risk associated with the potential failure.

subject to failure

Indicates that failure is a possible outcome due to certain conditions.

in danger of failing

Highlights the imminent threat of failure.

bound to fail

Suggests that failure is inevitable or predetermined.

destined to fail

Implies a predetermined outcome of failure, often due to inherent flaws or circumstances.

doomed to failure

Conveys a sense of unavoidable and often catastrophic failure.

may well fail

Uses "may well" to suggest a strong possibility of failure.

verge on failure

Suggests that something is close to failing.

FAQs

How can I use "liable to fail" in a sentence?

You can use "liable to fail" to describe situations, plans, or systems that are likely to experience failure. For instance, "The project is ambitious, but it is also liable to fail if we do not secure adequate funding."

What can I say instead of "liable to fail"?

You can use alternatives like "likely to fail", "prone to failure", or "at risk of failing" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "liable to fail" or "likely to fail"?

Both "liable to fail" and "likely to fail" are grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. The choice between them often comes down to stylistic preference.

What's the difference between "liable to fail" and "doomed to fail"?

"Liable to fail" suggests a high probability of failure, while "doomed to failure" implies that failure is inevitable and unavoidable. "Doomed to fail" carries a stronger and more fatalistic connotation.