should they fail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should they fail" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a hypothetical situation, such as "If the students do not succeed on their final exams, should they fail the course?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Should they fail it is still contained".

The New York Times - Arts

Should they fail, he said, there is a case to go back to the United Nations.

Independent

We must ensure that should they fail, they do not take us down with them.

The New York Times

We remain committed to further reforms should they fail to do the job.

The New York Times

All four teams will have no excuses should they fail to take the initiative this weekend.

The Guardian - Sport

"We believe policymakers must focus on making banks less systemically damaging should they fail.

The Guardian - Business

Should they fail, they will rue the two defeats they have suffered so far.

The Guardian - Sport

But should they fail to make a deal he would be waiting.

The Guardian

Should they fail to toe the line, the Patriot Act essentially cuts off foreign institutions from business relations with America.

The Economist

But should they fail there is another set of quietly familiar conventions just waiting to kick in.

The Guardian - Sport

Guardian journalist George Monbiot has told the university he will hand back his degree should they fail to divest.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "should they fail" to introduce a less likely or undesired outcome, creating a sense of contingency and planning for alternatives.

Common error

A common mistake is to not clearly state the consequences that follow "should they fail". Always ensure a clear and logical outcome is presented to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should they fail" functions as a conditional clause, introducing a hypothetical situation where a specified action or endeavor does not achieve the desired outcome. This introductory clause sets the stage for the consequences or alternative actions that will follow if the failure occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should they fail" is a grammatically correct and frequently used conditional clause that introduces a hypothetical scenario where an action doesn't succeed. As highlighted by Ludwig, its primary function is to set the stage for discussing the consequences or alternative actions that would follow such a failure. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as scientific contexts, it maintains a neutral to formal tone. When employing this phrase, ensure that the subsequent clause clearly outlines the repercussions of the failure to maintain clarity and impact. Remember that while alternatives like "if they don't succeed" exist, "should they fail" carries a more formal and emphatic tone, which may be better suited for certain writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if they don't succeed

Replaces "should they fail" with a more direct conditional statement.

if they are unsuccessful

Substitutes "fail" with the adjective "unsuccessful".

were they to fail

Uses a more formal and hypothetical phrasing.

should their attempt prove unsuccessful

Formal and emphatic way of expressing failure of an attempt.

on the condition they don't succeed

Emphasizes the condition that success is not achieved.

assuming they are not successful

Introduces the condition of failure as an assumption.

in the event of their failure

Formalizes the condition of failure into a noun phrase.

if they should not achieve success

Adds emphasis to the hypothetical lack of success.

if their efforts are fruitless

Emphasizes the lack of positive results from their efforts.

supposing they don't come through

Suggests a failure to meet expectations or deliver results.

FAQs

How to use "should they fail" in a sentence?

Use "should they fail" to introduce a conditional clause where the verb is inverted for emphasis. For example, "Should they fail, the consequences will be severe."

What can I say instead of "should they fail"?

You can use alternatives like "if they don't succeed", "in the event of their failure", or "if they are unsuccessful" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "should they fail" or "if they fail"?

Both "should they fail" and "if they fail" are grammatically correct. "Should they fail" is more formal and emphasizes the hypothetical nature of the failure.

What's the difference between "should they fail" and "if they fail"?

"Should they fail" is a more formal and emphatic way of saying "if they fail". It often implies a greater degree of concern or a more significant potential consequence.