were unsuccessful in

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were unsuccessful in" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a failure to achieve a specific goal or outcome. Example: "The team were unsuccessful in securing the funding needed for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were unsuccessful in their request.

The New Yorker

They were unsuccessful, in fairly spectacular fashion.

The New York Times

"And P.S., after two years and millions of dollars, they were unsuccessful in doing that".

The New York Times

Simon [Birmingham] is reviewing again the higher education reforms that were unsuccessful in the senate.

The Guardian

"They were unsuccessful in their attempts and the coal vessel has now docked".

Independent

The women said they were unsuccessful in reaching Facebook officials to discuss the ad.

The New York Times

OAKLAND ATHLETICS--Announced they were unsuccessful in reaching an agreement with Ken Macha, manager, on a contract extension.

The New York Times

Although they were unsuccessful in this effort, Bradley later used the same method to discover the aberration of starlight.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Spurs were unsuccessful in that attempt.

BBC

Ammonia emission measurements were unsuccessful in most of the trials.

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

The company advises that it doesn't retain personal details of those who were unsuccessful in getting a free account.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were unsuccessful in", ensure that the sentence clearly states the goal that was not achieved. This provides context and makes the statement more informative.

Common error

Avoid using "were unsuccessful in" without specifying what the subject was trying to achieve. For instance, instead of saying "They were unsuccessful in their attempts", specify "They were unsuccessful in reaching a settlement".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were unsuccessful in" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It modifies a subject by describing a state of failure to achieve a specific goal or outcome. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

39%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were unsuccessful in" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used to denote the failure to accomplish a specific objective. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct and adaptable across various registers, although particularly prevalent in News & Media and Scientific contexts. To enhance clarity, always ensure the target goal is explicitly stated. For conciseness, consider alternatives like "failed to" or "did not succeed in". By following these guidelines, you can confidently and accurately use "were unsuccessful in" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to achieve

Focuses directly on the lack of achievement, with slightly simpler vocabulary.

did not succeed in

Emphasizes the absence of success, using a more direct and common construction.

were thwarted in

Highlights the presence of an obstacle preventing success.

were defeated in

Implies a struggle or competition that resulted in failure.

could not manage to

Indicates a lack of ability or resources to accomplish the task.

proved unable to

Emphasizes a discovered lack of capability.

fell short in

Suggests a failure to reach a specific standard or target.

didn't pull off

An informal alternative, highlighting a failure to execute something skillfully.

came up short in

Similar to "fell short", but slightly more colloquial.

were without success in

A more formal and somewhat emphatic way of stating the lack of success.

FAQs

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

Use "were unsuccessful in" to indicate a failure to achieve a particular aim or goal. For example: "The researchers "were unsuccessful in" isolating the virus".

What are some alternatives to "were unsuccessful in"?

You can use alternatives such as "failed to", "did not succeed in", or "were unable to" depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is it better to say "were unsuccessful in" or "failed to"?

Both "were unsuccessful in" and "failed to" are grammatically correct. "Failed to" is more concise, while "were unsuccessful in" can sound more formal.

What is the difference between "were unsuccessful in" and "did not try to"?

"Were unsuccessful in" means an attempt was made but did not achieve the desired outcome. "Did not try to" indicates that no attempt was made at all.