slew of failures

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slew of failures" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large number of failures or mistakes in a particular context. Example: "The project was plagued by a slew of failures, leading to significant delays and budget overruns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Owners Bob and Harvey Weinstein have suffered from a slew of failures, and are desperately banking on the success of Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds this weekend to help right the company.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Golfing games and other ideas were pursued with some success, but the company got caught up in the CD-ROM madness of the early 1990s, which resulted in a slew of embarrassing product failures and the dissolution of the Microsoft Home imprint.

Forbes

Some of the evidence for this view is convincingly presented in Daniel Kahneman's recent book "Thinking Fast and Slow": spectacular failures of expertise include predictions of the future value of wine, the performance of baseball players, the health of newborn babies and a couple's prospects for marital stability.

The New York Times

Their slow toil has led to a string of failures.

Forbes

He had had skirmishes with the law one arrest, thirty years ago, for assault and battery, and a slew of others for nonviolent offenses, including failure to appear in court and to pay child support.

The New Yorker

He had had skirmishes with the law — one arrest, thirty years ago, for assault and battery, and a slew of others for nonviolent offenses, including failure to appear in court and to pay child support.

The New Yorker

Sandberg implied that these sorts of failures were part of the company's strategy: purposefully going big even if it means failure or slow monetization.

TechCrunch

It is shown that the pins delay the initiation of failure, slow the propagation of damage and increase the ultimate strength by 6.5 times compared to an unpinned benchmark joint.

Composite Structures

These tests established the need for deformed bars for good bonding with concrete and demonstrated that the amount of steel in any member should be limited to about 8 percent of the area; this assures the slow elastic failure of the steel, as opposed to the abrupt brittle failure of the concrete, in case of accidental overloading.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In our study, participants who enrolled at study centers where enrollment was slow were at increased risk of failure to complete the study.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Failure opens the doors to situations we haven't faced before, and therefore, a whole slew of learning experiences.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "slew of failures", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes a "failure". This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

While "slew of failures" is acceptable, it can sound slightly dramatic in very informal settings. Consider using more casual alternatives like "a bunch of mistakes" or "a series of problems" for everyday conversations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slew of failures" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or following a preposition. Ludwig confirms its usability in describing multiple instances of unsuccessful outcomes.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slew of failures" is a noun phrase used to describe a large number of unsuccessful attempts or events. Ludwig confirms it's grammatically correct and usable in English, though relatively rare. The phrase finds its use in news, media, and science contexts. Alternatives like "series of setbacks" or "succession of defeats" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly identifies what constitutes a “failure” to prevent any ambiguity. In informal situations, less dramatic wording might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

series of setbacks

Focuses on the sequential nature of the failures, implying a chain of unfortunate events.

succession of defeats

Highlights the experience of being beaten or overcome in each instance.

chain of mishaps

Emphasizes the accidental or unfortunate nature of the failures.

cluster of errors

Stresses the mistakes made rather than the overall failure.

wave of flops

Emphasizes the unsuccessful launch or reception of something.

patch of downfalls

Highlights something that fell down in disgrace or ruin.

litany of letdowns

Underlines the disappointment associated with the failures.

torrent of unsuccesses

Implies a forceful and continuous stream of lacking success.

host of non-achievements

Directly points out the absence of desired results or accomplishments.

string of non-performances

Specifically addresses the failure to meet expected standards or outputs.

FAQs

What does "slew of failures" mean?

A "slew of failures" refers to a large number of unsuccessful attempts, mistakes, or incidents. It suggests that there have been many instances of something not working out as intended.

What can I say instead of "slew of failures"?

You can use alternatives like "series of setbacks", "succession of defeats", or "chain of mishaps" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is "slew of failures" formal or informal?

"Slew of failures" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it may sound slightly dramatic in very casual conversation. Consider alternatives like "a bunch of mistakes" or "a series of problems" for more informal settings.

How can I use "slew of failures" in a sentence?

You can use "slew of failures" to describe a situation where there have been numerous unsuccessful attempts or incidents. For example, "The project was plagued by a slew of failures, leading to significant delays."