seems to fail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seems to fail" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase is often used to express an opinion that something has gone wrong or might not work. For example, "John seems to have failed his maths test."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Suddenly reverting to her old ego, her project seems to fail.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Sometimes it seems to fail as an explanation, to fall down into being just a description.

The New Yorker

It's no wonder, then, that today reason often seems to fail us.

The New Yorker

Appealing to people's altruism or common sense seems to fail as an abstract principle, in traffic as elsewhere.

The New York Times

Likewise EC8-3 seems to fail to represent the variation in plastic rotation in contrast to several parameters employed in the calculation.

Engineering Structures

If Mr Corbat seems to fail, the issue will not be how to fire him, but rather those who chose him for the job.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

For years he seemed to fail at both.

The Economist

But other times, the theoretical connection seemed to fail them.

The New York Times - Magazine

Both abilities seemed to fail him when he played 31 h4.

The New York Times

At first his voice seemed to fail him.

The New York Times - Books

Yet, despite wide support for HCC, many such initiatives seem to fail.

Land Use Policy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seems to fail" to express a tentative conclusion about something not working as expected. It's ideal when you want to highlight a potential problem without making a definitive judgment.

Common error

Avoid using "seems to fail" when you have conclusive evidence of failure. In such cases, stronger language is more appropriate, such as "has failed" or "is a failure".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seems to fail" functions as a qualifying verb phrase. It suggests a tentative assessment or an impression that something is not succeeding, rather than stating a definitive fact. As noted by Ludwig, this construction conveys a degree of uncertainty.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seems to fail" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate a tentative assessment of something not working as expected. According to Ludwig, this phrase is versatile, appearing in news, science, and academic contexts. While "seems to fail" is useful for conveying uncertainty, it's important to avoid overstating the certainty of failure when more conclusive language is appropriate. Alternatives like "appears unsuccessful" or "is apparently failing" can also be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appears to be failing

Adds a continuous aspect to the verb, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the failure.

appears unsuccessful

Changes the verb and adds an adjective for a straightforward substitution.

is apparently failing

Replaces "seems" with "apparently", indicating an observation.

looks like it's failing

Uses a more informal and visual way to express the failure.

gives the impression of failing

Highlights the perceived nature of the failure.

gives the appearance of failure

Focuses on the outward presentation of failure.

is turning out to be a failure

Emphasizes the process of becoming a failure over time.

is proving inadequate

Shifts the focus to the inadequacy of something.

is not working effectively

Focuses on the lack of effectiveness rather than outright failure.

is proving to be deficient

Highlights shortcomings or defects that lead to failure.

FAQs

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

You can use "seems to fail" to express the idea that something is not working as intended, like: "The new strategy "seems to fail" in the current market conditions."

What are some alternatives to "seems to fail"?

Alternatives to "seems to fail" include "appears unsuccessful", "is apparently failing", or "gives the impression of failing", each carrying slightly different connotations.

When is it appropriate to use "seems to fail" instead of "fails"?

"Seems to fail" is appropriate when you want to express uncertainty or a tentative observation, while "fails" indicates a confirmed outcome. For example, "The experiment "seems to fail", but we need more data" suggests further investigation is needed.

Is "seems to be failing" different from "seems to fail"?

Yes, "seems to be failing" implies an ongoing process, while ""seems to fail"" suggests a more static state or a completed event. "The project seems to be failing" suggests continuous observation, whereas "The project "seems to fail"" could mean the final result is unsatisfactory.