were not fruitful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were not fruitful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe situations, efforts, or endeavors that did not yield positive results or outcomes. Example: "Despite our extensive research and planning, the negotiations with the supplier were not fruitful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

For Armitage, these were not fruitful years, as the college was then almost exclusively concerned with painting and graphic work.

The Guardian

His firm made a series of bets based on its projections for the direction of the economy and inflation, which were not fruitful.

The New York Times

China did resume talks with the Dalai Lama's representatives, but the talks were not fruitful; other hoped-for concessions from Beijing have yet to materialize.

The New Yorker

Calls to towing companies were not fruitful: "We could only remember four of the numbers on the license plate and not in the right order".

The New York Times

In Raj Rajaratnam's appeal of his convictions for conspiracy and insider trading that will be heard on Thursday by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the critical issue will be whether the government established that it needed to use wiretaps because other avenues of investigation were not fruitful.

The New York Times

"We were allocating lots of capital to opportunities that were not fruitful," recalls Paul Fletcher, today director of corporate and regulatory affairs at Optus.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Efforts to fathom this policy, which isn't exclusive to B.A., weren't fruitful in follow-up emails last week, probably because Caroline was on holiday break.

The New York Times

If the meeting is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting".

The New Yorker

And when the friction between muse and money is not fruitful -- well, there is not much the artist can do about it.

The New York Times

"If it's Iran-first policy, then any diversion to Syria is not fruitful," said Aluf Benn, editor of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

The New York Times

That initial venture was not fruitful, and Mr. Devol turned his inventor's hand to making devices that open doors automatically and other devices using machine controls.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the outcome of an endeavor, use "were not fruitful" to convey that the expected or desired results were not achieved. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "were not fruitful" is acceptable in many situations, avoid using it excessively in highly formal writing, like academic papers. Opt for alternatives such as "proved unproductive" or "did not yield the anticipated results" for greater precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were not fruitful" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the state of a subject (e.g., efforts, attempts, conversations). It indicates that something did not produce the desired or expected outcome. Ludwig AI confirms this with several examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

34%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were not fruitful" is a grammatically correct and relatively common expression used to indicate that efforts or actions failed to produce the desired results. Ludwig AI confirms this. While suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and general writing, it's important to consider the specific register and choose alternatives like "did not succeed" or "proved unsuccessful" for more formal or precise communication. Avoid overuse in academic settings and be mindful of whether "unfruitful" or "unproductive" best reflects the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not succeed

Replaces "fruitful" with the more direct verb "succeed", focusing on the failure to achieve a goal.

proved unsuccessful

Substitutes "fruitful" with "unsuccessful", emphasizing the negative outcome of the effort.

did not yield results

Replaces "fruitful" with "yield results", highlighting the absence of positive outcomes or gains.

were unproductive

Emphasizes the lack of output or progress, focusing on inefficiency.

came to nothing

This idiom suggests a complete lack of success, implying that the efforts were wasted.

did not bear fruit

Uses a metaphorical expression similar to the original, but rephrased for emphasis.

were in vain

Highlights the futility of the efforts, suggesting they were ultimately pointless.

failed to deliver

Focuses on the lack of expected or promised results.

turned out badly

Indicates a negative outcome or a failure to meet expectations.

were abortive

Suggests that the efforts were cut short or failed to reach completion.

FAQs

How can I use "were not fruitful" in a sentence?

You can use "were not fruitful" to describe attempts or actions that did not produce the desired results. For instance, "The negotiations with the supplier "were not fruitful", and we had to seek an alternative vendor."

What are some alternatives to "were not fruitful"?

Alternatives include phrases like "did not succeed", "proved unsuccessful", or "did not yield results", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "were not fruitful" considered formal or informal?

"Were not fruitful" is generally considered acceptable in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or professional writing. Consider context to pick the more appropriate phrase.

What's the difference between "were not fruitful" and "were unproductive"?

While similar, "were not fruitful" implies a lack of positive outcome or desired result, whereas "were unproductive" focuses more on the inefficiency or lack of output during the process. For example 'The meeting was not fruitful' suggests the meeting didn't achieve its goals, while 'The meeting was unproductive' suggests that discussions were irrelevant or took too long.