perceived to fail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "perceived to fail" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's or something's reputation or expectation of failure, often in contexts like evaluations, assessments, or opinions. Example: "The project was perceived to fail due to a lack of resources and support from management."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Western societies' condemnation of women who are perceived to fail by not putting their unborn babies' or children's needs ahead of their own is indicative of women's social positioning and exemplifies the privileging of biomedical knowledge over the women's own knowledge.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It was tried in Japan and was perceived to have failed.

The Economist

George W. Bush and his administration for what he perceived to be failed attempts at Iraqi reconstruction.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Islamic Republic is now widely perceived to have failed the mostazafin, the oppressed and disinherited in whose name the revolution was carried out.

The New Yorker

Patch insiders suggested that Lenz had already been singled out because a "Patch 2.0" redesign which he spear-headed was perceived to have failed.

Independent

As we all know, elites are now perceived to have failed their electorates across the democratic spectrum of advanced economies on unfairness, both of opportunity and income, but not just on that.

The Guardian

Of course, this was part of the intellectual shift that occurred in the 1970s when the use of Keynesian fiscal policy to fine tune the economy was perceived to have failed and the emphasis of economic management moved to monetary policy.There are really two justifications for independent central banks.

The Economist

Mr Cowen feels the heat of public anger not only because of his government's belt-tightening but because he is widely perceived to have failed to curb the excesses of Ireland's housing-led economic boom during his tenure as finance minister, between 2004 and 2008.In this section Now what?

The Economist

That's one Democrat who is perceived to have failed, and one Republican.

Huffington Post

Officers perceived to have failed under the old regime were removed, and Montgomery's favoured commanders were brought in.

Wikipedia

(Older Person 2) At the same time, whilst some commissioners sought to engage with the local community, others were perceived to have failed to engage adequately.

Health Policy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "perceived to fail" to indicate a subjective assessment of failure, rather than an objective fact. This is useful when discussing opinions, reputations, or expectations that may not be universally agreed upon.

Common error

Avoid using "perceived to fail" when objective evidence clearly demonstrates failure. The phrase is most appropriate when the failure is a matter of opinion or interpretation, not verifiable fact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "perceived to fail" functions as a verb phrase indicating a subjective judgment or assessment. It shows that something is thought or believed to be unsuccessful. As noted by Ludwig AI, this perception might not align with objective reality.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

44%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "perceived to fail" is a verb phrase used to express that something is thought or believed to be unsuccessful from a specific viewpoint. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While it's found across various contexts, its use is more common in news, media, and scientific publications, indicating a neutral level of formality. Remember to use this phrase when you want to emphasize the subjective nature of the failure, rather than stating it as an objective fact. Alternatives like "regarded as unsuccessful" or "considered a failure" can be used to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regarded as unsuccessful

Replaces "perceived" with "regarded" and "fail" with "unsuccessful", focusing on the opinion held.

considered a failure

Emphasizes the classification of something as a failure, rather than the act of failing.

seen as having failed

Focuses on the visual aspect of recognizing failure, using "seen as" instead of "perceived".

believed to have failed

Highlights the belief or conviction that something has failed.

thought to be a failure

Similar to "believed", but uses "thought" to convey the idea.

deemed to be failing

Implies a more formal judgment or assessment of ongoing failure.

judged to have failed

Indicates that a formal evaluation has concluded in a finding of failure.

reputed to be a failure

Highlights the reputation or widespread knowledge of the failure.

understood as a failure

Emphasizes the comprehension or acceptance of something as a failure.

presumed to be failing

Suggests a presumption or assumption of ongoing failure, often without concrete evidence.

FAQs

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

You can use "perceived to fail" to express that something is considered unsuccessful based on a particular viewpoint or set of expectations. For example: "The project was "regarded as unsuccessful" because it didn't meet the initial objectives."

What's the difference between "perceived to fail" and "failed"?

"Perceived to fail" implies a subjective assessment, whereas "failed" suggests an objective fact. Something "seen as having failed" might not actually be a complete failure, but it's viewed that way by some.

What are some alternatives to "perceived to fail"?

Alternatives include "considered a failure", "believed to have failed", or "thought to be a failure". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "perceived to fail" or "perceived as failing"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "perceived to fail" is more concise. "Perceived as failing" emphasizes the ongoing nature of the perceived failure, while "perceived to fail" treats the failure as a more completed assessment.