we failed to discover

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we failed to discover" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an unsuccessful attempt to find or learn something. Example: "Despite our extensive research, we failed to discover the underlying cause of the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

In this previous set of scans, we failed to discover any significant BOS selectivity [29] or hemispheric differences.

Plosone

However, we failed to discover any correlations for shrimp.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

With 61 newly identified miRNAs, we failed to discover any targets for them in Maize.

BMC Genomics

Even after an exhaustive search using BLAST, we failed to discover any atp8-like protein sequence.

BMC Genomics

We failed to discover a short-term trade-off between plant hydraulic capacity and photosynthetic water-use efficiency.

BMC Plant Biology

We failed to discover any mutations of the 9 genetic variants, including rare mutations E46K and A1442P originally found in the kindred.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

We had failed to discover two of these fusions because of limitations of our fusion prediction: DDX5-DEPDC6/DEPTOR is a 'run-through' fusion (see above) that had been obscured by other possible downstream fusion partners; while PLEC1-ENPP2 was formed by a complex rearrangement apparently comprising two genomic junctions.

BMC Genomics

As a consequence, we may have failed to discover some cases of restrictive pulmonary impairment and, consequently, underestimated the prevalence.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

We present a case of a patient with severe sepsis in whom the usual diagnostic modalities failed to discover the infectious focus; however, using LUS we discovered that the patient had pneumonia.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

As we see it, the problem was Monika and a screening process that failed to discover that she had a very troubled relationship with her younger brother.

The New York Times

They failed to discover sufficient oil & gas & huge debts resulted.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we failed to discover", ensure that the context clearly indicates what efforts were made to find or learn the information. This adds credibility and emphasizes the thoroughness of the search.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the implications of failing to discover something. It's important to provide context about the search process and limitations, rather than implying incompetence or negligence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we failed to discover" functions as a declarative statement indicating an unsuccessful attempt at finding or uncovering something. Ludwig AI examples show its usage in scientific reports, news articles and general writing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we failed to discover" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to indicate an unsuccessful attempt to find or uncover something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for reporting negative findings across various contexts, especially in science and news media. When using this phrase, ensure you provide sufficient context about the search efforts made. Alternatives such as "we were unable to find" or "we did not uncover" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Be mindful not to overstate the significance of the failure, focusing instead on the objective reporting of the search process and its limitations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were unable to find

Replaces "failed to discover" with a more straightforward expression of inability to locate something.

we did not uncover

Substitutes "failed to discover" with a phrase emphasizing the lack of revelation or exposure of information.

we did not detect

Focuses on the absence of detection, suitable when referring to a lack of sensory or instrumental finding.

we could not ascertain

Emphasizes the inability to determine something with certainty.

we found no evidence of

Highlights the lack of supporting information for a particular claim or hypothesis.

we were unsuccessful in locating

Formally expresses the lack of success in finding something.

we didn't come across

Offers a more casual way of saying that something was not found or encountered.

we missed

Simplifies the phrase to indicate a failure to notice or find something.

our search did not reveal

Highlights that a search process yielded no results, focusing on the search itself.

we were blind to

Indicates a failure to recognize or understand something, suggesting a lack of awareness.

FAQs

What does "we failed to discover" mean?

It means that an attempt was made to find or learn something, but it was unsuccessful. It implies that a search or investigation took place, but no relevant information or evidence was found.

How can I use "we failed to discover" in a sentence?

You can use it to report the results of an investigation or search that did not yield the desired outcome. For example: "Despite our extensive research, "we failed to discover" the underlying cause of the problem."

What are some alternatives to "we failed to discover"?

Alternatives include "we were unable to find", "we did not uncover", or "we did not detect" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "we didn't discover" or "we failed to discover"?

Both are grammatically correct. "We failed to discover" implies a more deliberate attempt to find something, while "we didn't discover" is a more general statement that the discovery didn't occur. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.