prone to fail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prone to fail" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when speaking about a situation where there is a higher than average likelihood that something will fail or not meet expectations. For example, "This project may be prone to fail if we don't receive proper funding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Firestones have been most prone to fail in hot climates -- the Mideast, Venezuela and across America's Sun Belt.

The New York Times - Magazine

This is really the underlying question about this voting machine technology, which is that it's extremely prone to fail in poor communities and communities of color.

The Guardian

Neither Mr. Stahl nor his surgeon knew it, but at that time, the maker of the replacement hip, Sulzer Orthopedics Inc. of Austin, Tex., was investigating reports that its implants were prone to fail.

The New York Times - Science

Initial research has already turned up major findings involving the surprising ease with which heat leaks through damaged insulation into the steel, and the ways in which isolated parts of the trade center's structure may have been prone to fail in a major fire -- even without structural damage from the planes.

The New York Times - Science

It doesn't matter which party is in power, the politics of education is still dominated by a deeply held subconscious belief that most professionals are prone to fail unless the heavy (and we now know incompetent) hand of government steps in to improve them.

The Guardian

The causes of the spill remain unclear, but a number of the agency's actions have drawn fire: it shortened safety and environmental reviews; overlooked flaws in the spill response plan; and ignored warnings that crucial pieces of emergency equipment, blowout preventers, were prone to fail.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Those bilinguals with better executive abilities demonstrated better language control abilities: they were less prone to switch involuntarily or to fail switching.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

His Republican opponent was the state treasurer, Judy Baar Topinka, who had a solid reputation as treasurer but was prone to gaffes and failed to present herself seriously.

The New Yorker

The mechanism of action also circumvents the agonist pathways (Fig 10) targeted by current treatments that are prone to desensitization during failed labour inductions.

EMBO Molecular Medicine

Underweight mothers produce stunted babies prone to sickness who may fail to develop to their full cognitive potential.

The Economist

However, these types of criteria are prone to error since they fail to address changes in population size or random variation [ 2].

BMC Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing potential problems, use "prone to fail" to clearly communicate the risk of something not working as expected. Be specific about why it's prone to failure for maximum impact.

Common error

Avoid using "prone to fail" as a blanket statement. Always provide context or reasoning to support why something is likely to fail. Saying "This plan is prone to fail" without explanation weakens your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prone to fail" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It describes a subject's tendency or likelihood to experience failure. Ludwig AI provides examples where it modifies nouns to indicate a high probability of something not succeeding.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

44%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prone to fail" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed adjective phrase used to describe something with a higher likelihood of failure. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase carries a neutral tone and is found in diverse sources, including science, news, and wiki contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure that you provide context to justify its usage, preventing it from becoming an unsupported assertion. Consider related phrases like ""likely to fail"" or ""susceptible to failure"" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at risk of failing

Directly states the possibility of an unsuccessful outcome.

susceptible to failure

Highlights vulnerability and a higher probability of not succeeding.

with a high failure rate

Focuses on statistical probability of failure.

likely to break down

Focuses on the potential for mechanical or structural failure.

vulnerable to breakdown

Indicates a weakness making something more likely to fail or stop functioning.

apt to go wrong

Emphasizes the chance of errors or unexpected issues arising.

liable to malfunction

Suggests a tendency for equipment or systems to operate incorrectly.

inclined to collapse

Specifically suggests a risk of structural failure or breakdown.

predisposed to collapse

Similar to "inclined to collapse", suggesting a higher likelihood of structural failure due to inherent weaknesses.

tending towards error

Highlights a predisposition for mistakes or inaccuracies.

FAQs

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

You can use "prone to fail" to describe something that has a higher likelihood of failure than average. For example: "This old bridge is "prone to fail" under heavy loads".

What are some alternatives to "prone to fail"?

Alternatives include "likely to fail", "susceptible to failure", or "at risk of failing", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "prone to failure" or "prone to fail"?

"Prone to failure" is grammatically correct, however, ""prone to fail"" is a perfectly acceptable and common construction, especially when followed by a verb.

What does "prone to" mean?

"Prone to" means having a tendency or inclination towards something. Therefore, something that is ""prone to fail"" has a higher chance or probability of failing.