previously unsuccessful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previously unsuccessful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that did not succeed in the past, often in contexts related to attempts, efforts, or projects. Example: "The team decided to revisit the previously unsuccessful marketing strategy to see if any adjustments could lead to better results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Why are these big firms joining hands to embrace this untested and previously unsuccessful idea?

The Economist

All sorts of arms have blossomed, some young, some slightly older, some more experienced but previously unsuccessful.

The New York Times - Sports

He won the Turner Prize in 2007 – with his work State Britain – after a previously unsuccessful shortlisting.

Independent

The case began in 1998 as a constitutional challenge to Minnesota's judicial code by Gregory Wersal, a previously unsuccessful candidate for the State Supreme Court.

The New York Times

Bank of China said Friday that it had extended a line of credit of 20 billion renminbi, or $2.93 billion, to Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation, which is mulling whether to revive its previously unsuccessful effort to acquire the Swedish automaker.

The New York Times

These signals include engine and vehicle speed, and the angle of depression of the accelerator pedal.This combination of the mechanical and the electronic is known, inelegantly, as "mechatronics", and it is what is allowing the revival of previously unsuccessful technologies.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Gabrieli has previously made unsuccessful runs for Congress and for lieutenant governor.

The New York Times

The synthesis of the high spin neutral molecules with general formula R 1,2,3,5-dithia-diazolyl R 1,2,3,5-dithia-diazolyl R 1,2,3,5-dithia-diazolyl

Chemical Physics Letters

As simulation outputs of this study has alarmed probable ecosystem change manifested by diminishing areal extent and landscape fragmentation, better ecosystem management strategies than previously implemented unsuccessful intervention strategies.

Ecological Processes

Two patients had previously undergone unsuccessful ablation attempts at their referring hospitals.

Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology

Figure 3 shows the results from PRTPrimer under two different settings for a region around the SOD2 gene (Chr6) that had previously been unsuccessful for manual design.

Bioinformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "previously unsuccessful" to clearly indicate that an attempt or method has not yielded positive results in the past, setting the context for a new approach or analysis.

Common error

Avoid phrases like "very previously unsuccessful", as "previously" already implies a past state. Redundant adverbs weaken the clarity of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously unsuccessful" functions as a descriptive adjective, modifying a noun to indicate that something has not succeeded in the past. As Ludwig AI states, it is usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig showcase its application in various domains like describing "previously unsuccessful bidders" or a "previously unsuccessful compound".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

44%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "previously unsuccessful" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed adjective phrase, used to characterize entities that have not achieved success in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for use in written English. The analysis reveals that while the phrase appears across various domains, including news, science, and general writing, it maintains a consistent meaning related to past failures. The most common contexts are "News & Media" and "Science". When using this phrase, remember that you can replace it with other valid alternatives such as "formerly failed" or "prior failed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly failed

Replaces "previously" with "formerly" and "unsuccessful" with "failed", slightly altering the tone but maintaining the core meaning.

past unsuccessful

Uses "past" instead of "previously", focusing directly on the lack of success in the past.

historically unsuccessful

Substitutes "previously" with "historically", adding a sense of established failure over time.

prior failed

Uses "prior" in place of "previously" and "failed" instead of "unsuccessful", simplifying the language.

unsuccessful in the past

Rephrases the entire phrase to emphasize the timeframe of the lack of success.

once unsuccessful

Replaces "previously" with "once", suggesting a specific instance of failure.

formerly deficient

Replaces "unsuccessful" with "deficient", highlighting a lack of necessary qualities or skills.

previously abortive

Uses "abortive" to indicate that previous attempts were cut short or failed to reach completion.

past abortive

Combines the simple 'past' with 'abortive' which indicates that previous attempts didn't reach a conclusion.

earlier unsuccessful

Substitutes "previously" with "earlier", pointing to a time before the present.

FAQs

How can I use "previously unsuccessful" in a sentence?

You can use "previously unsuccessful" to describe attempts or strategies that have failed in the past. For example, "The team decided to revisit the "previously unsuccessful" marketing strategy."

What are some alternatives to "previously unsuccessful"?

Alternatives include "formerly failed", "past unsuccessful", or "prior failed", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "unsuccessful previously" instead of "previously unsuccessful"?

While not grammatically incorrect, "previously unsuccessful" is the more common and natural word order. The alternative, "unsuccessful previously", sounds awkward.

What is the difference between "previously unsuccessful" and "currently unsuccessful"?

"Previously unsuccessful" implies failure in the past, whereas "currently unsuccessful" describes a situation that is not succeeding at the present moment. They refer to different timeframes and thus carry different meanings.