unable to found

USAGE SUMMARY

'unable to found' is not a correct phrase in written English.
You could use the phrase 'unable to find' instead. Example: I've been searching for hours, but I'm still unable to find the missing documents.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The Socialist Party is the fourth she has been associated with in six years, and her involvement came at the last minute, after she was unable to found a party promoting sustainability.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I have been unable to find it.

The New Yorker

They are unable to find it.

The New Yorker

Doug is unable to find his ball.

The New York Times

Contains three stories, unable to find divisions.

University of California, Berkeley

They were unable to find out.

The New York Times

He has been unable to find work.

The Guardian

He was unable to find other lenders.

The New York Times

Unable to find a new job.

The New York Times

Error: Unable to find Tickets to Optimistic Hip-Hop Musical.

The New Yorker

Unable to find a new job, Mr. Nixon moved to Michigan.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "unable to found" in formal writing; opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "unable to establish" or "failed to found".

Common error

A common error is using "found" (past tense of 'find') instead of "to found" (to establish or create). Ensure you use the correct infinitive form to avoid grammatical errors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unable to found" functions as a verb phrase expressing the lack of ability to establish or create something. Despite being grammatically incorrect, it attempts to convey a specific action. Ludwig AI analysis points out that the phrase is not considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "unable to found" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI points out, a better formulation is "unable to establish" or "failed to found", depending on the specific context. Despite its grammatical issues, it appears in both News & Media and Academic sources but should be avoided in favor of more grammatically sound alternatives. Using the correct infinitive form, 'to found', is crucial. While the phrase aims to express the inability to establish something new, correct alternatives provide clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to establish

Focuses on the lack of success in establishing something.

failed to discover

Emphasizes the inability to find something that already exists.

could not establish

Indicates a lack of capacity or permission to establish something.

could not discover

Highlights the lack of capacity or permission to find something.

was unable to establish

Formal way to say that someone was not able to establish something.

was unable to discover

Formal way to say that someone was not able to find something.

incapable of founding

Highlights the inherent inability to establish something.

incapable of discovering

Highlights the inherent inability to find something.

prevented from founding

Focuses on external restrictions that hindered the act of founding.

thwarted in founding

Emphasizes the active prevention of someone's effort to found something.

FAQs

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "unable to found"?

A grammatically correct alternative would be "unable to establish" or "failed to found". The original phrase mixes the past tense of 'find' with the infinitive 'to found'.

Is "unable to found" ever correct in English?

No, "unable to found" is not considered correct English. It's a grammatical error. The correct form is "unable to establish" or "failed to found".

Can I use "unable to find" instead of "unable to found"?

While similar, "unable to find" and "unable to found" have different meanings. "Unable to find" implies the inability to locate something, whereas "unable to found" (or establish) refers to the inability to create or set up something.

What does "unable to found" mean?

The phrase "unable to found" suggests the inability to establish or create something new, like an organization, a company, or a system. However, it is grammatically incorrect, so use "unable to establish" or "failed to found" instead.