they failed to respond

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they failed to respond" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that someone did not reply or take action when expected to do so. Example: "Despite multiple attempts to contact them, they failed to respond to our inquiries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

NASA finally decided to continue operating the two landers until they failed to respond to commands from Earth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The government warned it would put councils into "special measures" if they failed to respond speedily to planning permission requests.

The Guardian

The Guardian made repeated attempts to obtain comment from CIF and China Sonangol, but they failed to respond.

The Guardian

It also maintains that they failed to respond quickly enough to prevent a spill when the ship struck a bridge.

The New York Times

And why had they failed to respond to repeated and increasingly frantic calls from air traffic controllers and other aircraft?

The Guardian

A Norwegian newspaper, Aftenposten, reported earlier that Mr. Breivik had called the police offering to surrender, but that they failed to respond.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

But they fail to respond to his instructions.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Even if they fail to respond, I will never fail to respond".

The New York Times - Sports

If they fail to respond and do not vote in the next four years, their names are purged from the rolls.

The New York Times

If they fail to respond and do not vote in the next four years, their names are removed from the rolls.

The Washington Post

They face the possibility of financial sanctions if they fail to respond positively to job centre encouragement to increase their hours or move to a higher paying job.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they failed to respond", ensure the context clearly indicates who "they" refers to and what they were expected to respond to. Clarity is key for effective communication.

Common error

Avoid using "they failed to respond" when the reason for the lack of response is unclear. Specify if it was due to negligence, inability, or a deliberate choice to enhance clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they failed to respond" functions as a statement indicating a lack of reaction or answer from a group. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It commonly acts as the predicate of a sentence, expressing an unfulfilled expectation or obligation to react.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they failed to respond" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate a lack of reaction or reply from a group, which is verified by Ludwig AI. It is versatile enough for use in various contexts, from news reports to scientific articles, maintaining a generally neutral tone. While alternatives like "they did not reply" and "they didn't answer" exist, the original phrase remains a clear and effective choice. When employing this phrase, be mindful of ensuring that the referent of "they" is unambiguous to maintain clarity. Its high frequency and consistent usage across authoritative sources reinforce its reliability in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they did not reply

Focuses specifically on the lack of a written or verbal answer.

they didn't answer

Emphasizes a lack of response to a question or call.

they gave no response

Highlights the complete absence of a reaction.

they didn't react

Focuses on the absence of any action or emotional display.

they ignored it

Suggests a deliberate choice not to acknowledge something.

they remained silent

Implies a deliberate choice not to speak or communicate.

no response was received

A more formal and passive way of stating the lack of a reply.

they turned a deaf ear

An idiomatic expression indicating a refusal to listen or pay attention.

they took no action

Emphasizes the absence of any action taken in response.

they were unresponsive

Highlights a general state of not reacting or answering.

FAQs

What does "they failed to respond" mean?

The phrase "they failed to respond" means that a group of people or entities did not react, reply, or take action when expected or required to do so.

What can I say instead of "they failed to respond"?

You can use alternatives like "they did not reply", "they didn't answer", or "they gave no response" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "they failed to respond"?

Yes, "they failed to respond" is grammatically correct. The verb "failed" agrees with the plural pronoun "they", and "to respond" is a standard infinitive phrase.

What's the difference between "they failed to respond" and "they refused to respond"?

"They failed to respond" implies a lack of response for any reason, while "they refused to respond" suggests a deliberate choice not to react or reply. Refusal implies intent, while failure does not necessarily do so.