was not successful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was not successful' is correct and usable in written English.
It is sometimes used to mean that something attempted did not achieve a desired outcome. For example, "John tried to repair the washing machine, but his efforts were not successful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It was not successful.

The New Yorker

Kawaguchi was not successful.

The New York Times - Sports

He was not successful.

The New York Times

"I was not successful at it".

The New York Times

His foreign policy, however, was not successful.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The tactic was not successful after that.

The New York Times

Leo's first attempt was not successful.

The New York Times

He was not successful in tragedy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Her attempt was not successful.

The New York Times

The prosecution was not successful.

The New York Times

Unfortunately she was not successful".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was not successful", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject was attempting to achieve. This adds clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "was not successful" without specifying what the subject tried to accomplish. This can leave the reader wondering what failed. Instead, provide clear context: "The experiment was not successful in proving the hypothesis."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not successful" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the subject's state of not having achieved a desired outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct and commonly used way to express a lack of success.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was not successful" is a grammatically sound and very common way to express that something did not achieve its intended outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for use across various registers, from formal to informal, though it appears most frequently in news, science, and encyclopedic sources. When using the phrase, ensure that the context clearly specifies what attempt or action is being described, avoiding ambiguity. Alternatives such as "failed to succeed" or "did not work out" can provide subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to succeed

Emphasizes the inability to achieve success, explicitly stating the failure.

did not work out

Suggests a plan or attempt did not proceed as intended or yield positive results.

proved unsuccessful

Highlights the verification or demonstration of a lack of success.

came to nothing

Indicates that efforts or plans resulted in no significant or positive outcome.

fell short of expectations

Focuses on the failure to meet anticipated or desired results.

was in vain

Stresses the futility or lack of purpose in an action or effort.

did not achieve its purpose

Directly points out the failure to accomplish the intended goal.

yielded no results

Emphasizes the absence of any tangible or positive outcomes.

turned out badly

Suggests a negative or undesirable outcome after a period of time or effort.

bombed

Informal term indicating a complete and utter failure.

FAQs

What does "was not successful" mean?

The phrase "was not successful" means that an attempt, effort, or endeavor did not achieve the desired outcome or result. It indicates a failure to accomplish a specific goal.

How can I use "was not successful" in a sentence?

You can use "was not successful" to describe the outcome of a task or project. For example: "The marketing campaign "was not successful" in increasing sales."

What are some alternatives to "was not successful"?

Alternatives include phrases like "failed to succeed", "did not work out", or "proved unsuccessful", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "was not successful" and "failed"?

While similar, "was not successful" often implies a more detailed evaluation of an attempt's outcome, whereas "failed" is a more direct statement of not achieving the intended result. The nuance depends on context.