we were unsuccessful

USAGE SUMMARY

"we were unsuccessful" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to refer to a failure that occurred in the past. For example, "We were unsuccessful in our attempt to climb the mountain due to bad weather."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Three times we were unsuccessful.

The New York Times - Sports

We tried to seek additional funding to operate Children's Express, but we were unsuccessful.

The New York Times

I worked on the yes campaign, but sadly we were unsuccessful.

The Guardian - Opinion

Last year we were unsuccessful but we were so close yet so far away.

The Guardian - Sport

"We tried to overcome those fears, but we were unsuccessful," Mr. Stein said.

The New York Times

"I have great memories of the play-offs from my time at Norwich, even though we were unsuccessful," Boothroyd said.

The Guardian - Sport

"We look forward to discussing the contract award decision with the MoJ within the next few days to determine why we were unsuccessful".

The Guardian

"I would rather not speculate on what would happen if we were unsuccessful because it would be disastrous to the overall needs of the planet," he said.

The Guardian

Tony Collins, VRG's chief executive, said: "We are understandably extremely disappointed at today's announcement and will be seeking an early meeting with the Department for Transport to understand why we were unsuccessful.

The Guardian - Business

Was Google less committed to this deal than Yahoo? A. We were unsuccessful in convincing the Justice Department of something which we strongly feel, which is that providing better value to advertisers would have occurred by virtue of this deal.

The New York Times - Tech

We were largely there for the foreign girls, and of course, on that front we were unsuccessful, despite draping ourselves over various monuments to Bardolatory and eating a lot of chips.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were unsuccessful" to clearly and directly communicate a lack of success in a past endeavor. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, providing clarity without being overly harsh.

Common error

While "we were unsuccessful" is acceptable, consider if an active voice construction (e.g., "we failed") would be more direct and impactful in your writing. Over-reliance on passive voice can make your writing sound weak.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were unsuccessful" functions as a statement of failure or lack of achievement. It conveys that a particular attempt or endeavor did not yield the desired result. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were unsuccessful" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase to express a past failure or lack of achievement. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is suitable for written English. It is most frequently found in scientific and news-related contexts, indicating its neutrality and suitability for reporting factual outcomes. While more formal than simpler alternatives like "we failed", it serves a clear and direct communicative purpose. When using the phrase, consider if a more direct active voice construction might be preferable. Remember that, while acceptable in many contexts, choosing the right alternative can enhance the impact and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we failed

Direct synonym indicating a lack of success.

we did not succeed

More formal way of expressing a lack of success.

our efforts were fruitless

Highlights the wasted effort in a more descriptive way.

we didn't manage to

More colloquial indicating an inability to achieve something.

we were defeated

Suggests a loss, often in a competitive context.

we came up short

Informal idiom indicating a failure to reach a goal.

we couldn't pull it off

Colloquial, indicating an inability to execute a plan.

we didn't cut it

Informal, suggests a lack of necessary qualities or skills.

we proved unequal to the task

Formal way to show that someone or something is incapable or insufficient to deal with a difficulty

we were beaten

Indicates being overcome, often in a competitive sense.

FAQs

How can I use "we were unsuccessful" in a sentence?

You can use "we were unsuccessful" to describe a situation where an attempt to achieve something did not succeed. For example, "We were unsuccessful in securing the funding for the project."

What are some alternatives to "we were unsuccessful"?

Alternatives include "we failed", "we did not succeed", or "our efforts were fruitless". The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it more formal to say "we were unsuccessful" or "we failed"?

"We were unsuccessful" is generally considered more formal than "we failed". "We were unsuccessful" uses a more indirect and polite tone, suitable for professional or academic settings.

When should I use "we were unsuccessful" instead of "it was unsuccessful"?

Use "we were unsuccessful" when you want to emphasize the involvement and effort of a specific group. Use "it was unsuccessful" when focusing on the outcome of a process or event, regardless of who was involved.