preferred failing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preferred failing" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts discussing a choice or acceptance of failure as a learning experience, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "In our innovative approach, we embrace preferred failing as a way to encourage creativity and growth."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As stated above, national rates were preferred, failing which regional rates that could be used to estimate national rates were sought.

Clinical Epidemiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In a religion in which redemption is the whole point, and whose God not only loves a sinner but seems to prefer one, human failing is a required ingredient, even for a preacher.

The New Yorker

And Marjorie, who abstained from needles, who was too squeamish, who viewed her inability to shoot up as a personal failing, who preferred the juvenile pleasures of beer and spray paint and glue, felt enormous jealousy.

The New Yorker

Wright's insightful conjectures pull you into the moving plight of a man who knows he hasn't long to live and yet prefers the tragedy of failing to make the breakthrough to the embarrassment of doing so.

Independent

Other students preferred to watch the game, failing to agree that football was a unit of the military-industrial complex.

The New York Times - Sports

This is, in essence, a loan to the bank that is junior to other bank debts and does not place the bank at risk of being in default from failing to pay preferred stock coupons.

Forbes

Shareholders often prefer to be passive, often failing to oust underperforming directors and managements.

The New York Times

Perhaps it is a national failing, but I prefer moderate hope and some likelihood of success to the dream of perfection and the promise of failure".

The New Yorker

I would prefer to be invisible, but failing that, I'd love to dress in haute couture from head to toe every day.

Independent

I can make excuses for this failing — students often prefer advisers who are more methodical and less intuitive, and I all too often scare students off by demanding that they use less math and more economics.

The New York Times

Everyone prefers good health to bad; failing to get there is an injury to which the insulting burden of victim blaming need not be appended.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "preferred failing", ensure the context clearly explains why failure is considered preferable. Without proper context, the phrase can be confusing.

Common error

Avoid using "preferred failing" in contexts where failure is inherently negative and undesirable. This phrase implies a strategic or philosophical acceptance of failure, not a general embrace of incompetence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preferred failing" functions as a noun phrase, suggesting a chosen or accepted state of failure. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's not a standard phrase but understandable within the proper context, where failure is strategically embraced.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "preferred failing" is a non-standard phrase that can be used to describe situations where failure is strategically accepted or even sought after as a means to achieve a better outcome, particularly in innovation, research, or personal development. While grammatically sound, it may cause confusion due to its uncommon usage. As Ludwig AI highlights, clarity in context is crucial for effective communication. Alternatives like "acceptable failure" or "calculated risk" may be more widely understood depending on the audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

favored failure

Substitutes "preferred" with "favored", emphasizing a positive inclination towards failure.

acceptable failure

Replaces "preferred" with "acceptable", focusing on the tolerance of failure rather than active preference.

failure by choice

Highlights the intentional selection of a path that may lead to failure.

failure as a preference

Emphasizes that failure itself is the preferred outcome.

preferring to fail

Expresses a willingness to fail over other alternatives.

opting for failure

Suggests a deliberate decision to choose failure.

embracing failure

Implies an acceptance and utilization of failure for growth.

willingness to fail

Focuses on the readiness to accept failure as a potential outcome.

selecting failure

Indicates a conscious selection of failure.

choosing to fail

Highlights the act of making a choice that leads to failure.

FAQs

How can "preferred failing" be used effectively in a sentence?

To use "preferred failing" effectively, frame it within a context where accepting failure early leads to better outcomes, like in product development or scientific experimentation. For example, "The company adopted a strategy of "preferred failing" to identify and eliminate flawed concepts quickly".

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

Alternatives include "acceptable failure", "favored failure", or "calculated risk", depending on whether you want to emphasize acceptance, inclination, or the strategic nature of the decision.

Is "preferred failing" grammatically correct?

While not a standard or widely recognized phrase, "preferred failing" is grammatically sound. Its meaning is understandable, particularly when used to describe a situation where early failures are seen as beneficial. Ludwig AI suggests that it may cause confusion due to its non-standard nature.

In what situations might someone "prefer" failing?

Someone might "prefer" failing in scenarios like rapid prototyping, where early failures help refine a product, or in personal development, where pushing boundaries and "embracing challenges" even if they lead to failure can foster growth. It's about valuing the learning process over immediate success.