omitted to do something

USAGE SUMMARY

"omitted to do something" is correct but less common in modern usage. It can be used in formal contexts where someone fails to perform an action. Example: "He omitted to submit his report on time." Alternative expressions include "failed to do something" and "neglected to do something."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Criminal charges" are defined in this study as a written accusation charging that an individual named has been accused of committing an act or omitted to do something that is punishable by law.

Health & Justice

Having omitted to do something that you should have really done either through selfishness or laziness or whatever.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

When a physician pulls a feeding tube, is she "merely omitting" to do something, which would presumably be licit, or is she actually doing something, i.e., removing the tube, which would presumably be illicit?

SEP

Physicians often justified their actions (e.g., withdrawing a ventilator or feeding tube) on the ground that a particular treatment constituted an "extraordinary means;" and in response to worries that withholding or withdrawal a tube might kill the patient, they often claimed that they were "merely omitting" to do something, rather than doing something illicit.

SEP

Intending to omit to do something, with the intention of bringing about a consequence, seems not to have any of the features that would make an individual less likely to ascribe moral responsibility to certain omissions than to actions.

Bioethics

I therefore neither plan nor invent; I add nothing and omit nothing... Being able to do something is never an adequate reason for doing it".

The Guardian - Arts

Here it is also customary to introduce finer-grained discriminations, distinguishing e.g. several ways in which an agent may fail to do something: (trying and) not succeeding, refraining, omitting, and allowing [Brand 1971; Milanich 1984; Hall 1984; Bach 2010].

SEP

Celera and the HGP tried to do something radical, to sequence all of the DNA in which genes are coded from end to end without omitting a single letter.

Forbes

But it meant something to do something.

The New Yorker

Not just to do something.

The New Yorker

I needed to do something.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context and audience when using "omitted to do something", as it may sound formal or archaic in modern conversation. In many cases, a simpler alternative like "failed to do something" or "didn't do something" is preferable.

Common error

Avoid using "omitted to do something" in informal settings or when communicating with a general audience. Opt for more accessible alternatives to ensure clarity and avoid sounding pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "omitted to do something" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a failure or neglect to perform an action. It often appears in contexts where responsibility or duty is involved. As per Ludwig, it is less common in modern usage but remains grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "omitted to do something" is a grammatically correct but somewhat formal way of expressing a failure or neglect to perform an action. Ludwig indicates that it's less common in modern usage, with simpler alternatives like "failed to do something" or "didn't do something" often being preferred. Predominantly found in science and news media contexts, its formal register suggests it's best suited for professional or academic writing, where precision is valued. While not incorrect, being mindful of your audience and context is key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to do something

Directly replaces "omitted" with "failed", indicating a lack of success in performing an action.

neglected to do something

Replaces "omitted" with "neglected", suggesting a lack of attention or care in not performing the action.

forgot to do something

Indicates an unintentional failure to act, due to a lapse in memory.

overlooked doing something

Suggests that the action was missed or not noticed, leading to its omission.

didn't do something

A simpler, more direct way of saying that an action was not performed.

refrained from doing something

Implies a conscious decision not to perform the action.

desisted from doing something

Similar to 'refrained', indicating a deliberate holding back from an action.

avoided doing something

Indicates a conscious effort to stay away from performing the action.

left undone

Focuses on the state of the task, highlighting that it remains incomplete.

shirked from doing something

Suggests an avoidance of responsibility or duty in performing the action.

FAQs

What does "omitted to do something" mean?

It means that someone failed or neglected to perform a specific action. It's a more formal way of saying someone "didn't do something".

What can I say instead of "omitted to do something"?

You can use alternatives like "failed to do something", "neglected to do something", or "didn't do something" depending on the context.

Is "omitted to do something" formal or informal?

It is generally considered a more formal expression. In everyday conversation, simpler phrases are usually preferred.

How do I use "omitted to do something" in a sentence?

For example, "He omitted to do something crucial, which led to the project's failure". Ensure the tone matches the formal nature of the phrase.