she would fail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she would fail" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a prediction or expectation about someone's inability to succeed in a particular situation. Example: "If she doesn't study for the exam, she would fail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

They thought she would fail".

The Economist

If an undergraduate did something like this in a course of mine, he or she would fail.

University of California, Berkeley

Grass would never be her favorite surface, and Wimbledon would be the one major title she would fail to win.

The New York Times - Sports

One firm said it was odds-on that she would fail to finish in the first 10.

The Guardian - Sport

Because of her work, she knew about the habitual residence test and never dreamed she would fail it.

The Guardian

She would fail to appear today, no doubt, as she had failed to appear every day for the past two weeks.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"She was left to get on with it," one observer reported, "on the grounds that she'd fail".

The Guardian

The German staff was accustomed to running its own show, so Jackie figured she'd fail if she couldn't get the team on her side.

Harvard Business Review

There was the guy who tweeted that he hoped she'd die in a fire, the one who sent her Facebook messages warning that she'd fail at her job and the online news commentator who quipped, "Never trust a writer with a head shot". "I did find that last one funny," said Katie Dippold, who has written the new "Ghostbusters" movie with director Paul Feig.

Los Angeles Times

She already thought she'd failed".

The New York Times

She had had her 15 minutes; she'd failed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she would fail" to express a prediction or expectation about someone's inability to succeed in a specific situation. It often implies a degree of certainty or inevitability.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "she would fail" can sound somewhat informal. In formal or academic writing, consider using more nuanced alternatives like "she was unlikely to succeed" or "her efforts would likely be unsuccessful" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

"She would fail" primarily functions as a predictive statement, indicating a future outcome where success is not expected. As seen in the Ludwig examples, it expresses an anticipation of failure based on certain conditions or characteristics. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

24%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she would fail" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for predicting or expecting a lack of success. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. While prevalent in news and media, it also appears in academic settings. When writing, consider the formality of your context, opting for more nuanced alternatives in formal settings. The related phrases offer various shades of meaning, from inevitability to mere possibility. Use "she would fail" to convey a clear expectation of failure based on your assessment of the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she was destined to fail

Emphasizes inevitability of the failure.

she was bound to fail

Similar to 'destined', indicating a high likelihood of failure.

she was going to fail

Expresses a future outcome with less emphasis on certainty.

she was unsuccessful

A simple statement of failure, less predictive.

she didn't succeed

Focuses on the lack of achievement.

she would not pass

Suggests failure in a test or evaluation.

she would not make it

An informal expression of not achieving a goal.

she would fall short

Implies not reaching a desired standard or target.

failure was inevitable for her

Highlights the certainty of failure.

she was set up to fail

Indicates external factors contributed to the failure.

FAQs

How can I use "she would fail" in a sentence?

You can use "she would fail" to express a prediction or strong expectation of failure, as in, "If she didn't study for the exam, "she would fail"."

What are some alternatives to "she would fail"?

Alternatives include phrases like "she was destined to fail", "she was unlikely to succeed", or "she was bound to fail", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "she would fail" grammatically correct?

Yes, "she would fail" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard structure of a subject pronoun + modal verb + base verb.

When is it appropriate to use "she would fail" versus "she will fail"?

"She would fail" is often used when discussing a hypothetical situation or a past prediction, while "she will fail" expresses a more direct and immediate future outcome.