to be failed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be failed" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct form would be "to fail" or "to be failed by." Example: "The project was expected to be failed due to lack of funding."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

The test is not designed to be failed.

The Guardian - Film

George W. Bush and his administration for what he perceived to be failed attempts at Iraqi reconstruction.

Encyclopedia Britannica

You see, there weren't ever supposed to be failed auctions, so the penalties weren't supposed to be relevant.

The New York Times

The object is a brown dwarf, the name given to what are thought to be failed stars that lacked the mass to ignite their nuclear furnaces.

The New York Times - Science

In the event, Courthouse got him through his 11-plus, but of course the nature of the system was that most of his classmates had to be failed.

The Guardian

Even so, "were the tests to be failed or to be unsatisfactory we will take all necessary measures, which simply means shutting them down," said Mr. Sarkozy, who added that all 58 reactors in France would be tested.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

"He's failed to lead".

The New York Times

As a result, the watermark is failed to be detected.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

It's been proven to be a failed strategy.

Vice

Achilles tendinopathy is understood to be a failed healing response.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

So the unjust person fails to be moderate, or fails to be wise, or fails to be courageous.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey that something has been failed by someone or something, explicitly state the agent. For example, use "to be failed by the system" rather than just "to be failed".

Common error

Avoid using "to be failed" as a general substitute for "to fail". The passive construction can obscure who or what caused the failure. Instead, specify the subject that failed or the agent that caused the failure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be failed" functions as an infinitive phrase in the passive voice, often used to describe a potential or expected outcome. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it is frequently used incorrectly and a different grammatical structure might fit better.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

35%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "to be failed" appears frequently in various sources, including news and scientific articles, it is generally considered grammatically dubious. Ludwig AI suggests that it's often misused and a more precise phrasing may be required.

Alternatives such as "to fail", "to be unsuccessful", or specifying the agent causing the failure (e.g., "to be failed by the system") offer clearer and more grammatically sound ways to express similar ideas. When writing, consider whether an active voice construction or a more explicit passive construction would improve clarity and avoid potential misinterpretation. High quality, authoritative sources tend to use more conventional phrasing than "to be failed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to not succeed

A straightforward substitution using negation to convey the absence of success.

to be unsuccessful

Replaces "failed" with a more general term for lacking success.

to fall short

Indicates a failure to reach a specific target or standard.

to not achieve the goal

Directly states the lack of accomplishment of a stated objective.

to result in failure

Emphasizes the outcome as a state of failure, altering the sentence structure.

to be defeated

Similar to 'end in defeat', suitable for situations of conflict or competition.

to end in defeat

Focuses on the conclusive aspect of failing, suitable for competitive contexts.

to prove abortive

Describes an attempt or plan that fails to come to fruition.

to be in vain

Highlights the lack of positive outcome despite effort.

to come to naught

An idiomatic expression emphasizing the futility of an endeavor.

FAQs

Is "to be failed" grammatically correct?

While frequently used, "to be failed" is generally considered incorrect in standard written English. It's usually better to use "to fail" or "to be failed by" depending on the intended meaning.

What are some alternatives to "to be failed"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "to be unsuccessful", "to result in failure", or simply "to fail".

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

Use "to fail" when something doesn't succeed. For example, "The project is likely to fail due to a lack of resources." You can also use "failed to" + verb: "The student failed to complete the assignment."

When would I use "to be failed by" instead of "to be failed"?

Use "to be failed by" when indicating that someone or something was let down or underserved by a system or entity. For example, "The patients felt they were "to be failed by" the healthcare system".