nothing succeeded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nothing succeeded" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that no attempts or efforts were successful. Example: "After several trials, nothing succeeded in solving the problem." Alternative expressions include "nothing worked" and "nothing was effective."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

An accompanying book, "Bals," about the legendary costume balls of the 20th century (published by Assouline) shows a world when nothing succeeded like excess.

The New York Times

The emotion I was feeling was nothing, succeeded by irritation, succeeded by despair at the complete absence of heart.

Huffington Post

But when it came to the worst of the decade in the art world, nothing succeeded quite like the totality of tackiness that put all the conspicuous art fair consumption to shame.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Sometimes nothing succeeds like failure.

The New York Times

INSIDE TRACK: Nothing succeeds like excess.

The New York Times

As they say, nothing succeeds like success.

The Guardian - Opinion

Nothing succeeds if it does not change.

The New York Times

You know, nothing succeeds like success.

The New Yorker

A. Nothing succeeds like success — it's intoxicating.

The New York Times

NOTHING succeeds like failure, as the saying goes.

The New York Times

But in today's China, nothing succeeds like financial success.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "nothing succeeded", ensure the context clearly indicates what efforts or attempts are being referred to. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "nothing succeeded" when a more active voice would be clearer and more engaging. For example, instead of "nothing succeeded in convincing him", consider "our arguments failed to convince him."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nothing succeeded" functions as a declarative statement. It asserts that all attempts or efforts were unsuccessful. As Ludwig AI reports, it follows standard grammar rules and can be used to indicate the absence of successful outcomes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "nothing succeeded" is a grammatically correct way to express that all attempts were unsuccessful. Ludwig AI confirms its adherence to standard grammar rules. While not extremely common, it finds use in neutral registers, particularly in news and media contexts. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "nothing was successful" or "no attempt was fruitful", depending on the desired level of formality. Remember to maintain clarity and avoid overuse of the passive voice when employing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nothing was successful

Replaces "succeeded" with its direct synonym, "successful", maintaining the original structure and meaning.

nothing worked out

Uses the phrasal verb "worked out" to convey that no effort produced the desired result. More informal.

no attempt was fruitful

Replaces "nothing" with "no attempt" and "succeeded" with "was fruitful", creating a more formal and literary tone.

all efforts were in vain

Emphasizes the futility of the efforts, indicating that they were ultimately unsuccessful. More emphatic.

every endeavor failed

Substitutes "nothing" with "every endeavor" and "succeeded" with "failed", highlighting the lack of success in each undertaking.

no positive outcome resulted

More explicit and formal, clarifying that no positive result was achieved. Adds redundancy.

everything came to naught

A more archaic and literary way of saying that all efforts were wasted or unsuccessful.

nothing proved effective

Focuses on the lack of effectiveness, rather than the lack of success.

all was to no avail

Similar to 'all efforts were in vain', but uses a slightly different structure.

no dice

A very informal and direct way of saying that something was unsuccessful.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "nothing succeeded" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "no attempt was fruitful", "no positive outcome resulted", or "all efforts were in vain". These options often add a layer of sophistication to your writing.

Is it grammatically correct to say "nothing succeeded"?

Yes, "nothing succeeded" is grammatically correct. It functions as a subject and verb, indicating that no attempts or endeavors achieved their intended outcome, as Ludwig AI confirms.

What does "nothing succeeded" mean?

The phrase "nothing succeeded" means that all attempts or efforts were unsuccessful and did not achieve the desired result. It implies a lack of positive outcome despite the attempts made.

Are there any informal alternatives to "nothing succeeded"?

Yes, some informal alternatives include "nothing worked out" or simply "no dice". These options are suitable for casual conversations or less formal writing contexts.