wholly fail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wholly fail" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a complete or total failure in a particular context or situation. Example: "Despite their best efforts, the project would wholly fail to meet the expectations set by the stakeholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Mele (2009) and O'Connor (2009b) argue that the data adduced by Libet, Wegner, and others wholly fail to support their revisionary conclusions.

SEP

They didn't wholly fail: Gaddafi played a crucial role in raising the price of oil in 1973, and Hafez al-Assad, Bashar's father, who had taken power in Syria two years earlier, created a state that could hold its own in a protracted struggle with Israel for predominance in Lebanon.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He added: "He wholly failed to deliver".

Independent

But attempts to eliminate the supposed enemy have wholly failed.

Independent

The US has fought two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past decade in which it wholly failed to achieve its aims.

Independent

Unhappily for Mr Miliband, though that summary is accurate enough, it also wholly fails to convey how this 6000 word clunker of a speech came across in reality.

The Economist

The Gallery is notable both for its gayness and for the fact that the media, at least at first, wholly failed to acknowledge this about the book.

The Guardian - Opinion

"There need to be third country options found for those on Nauru and Manus, and in that the government has wholly failed," he said.

The Guardian

The panel had "wholly failed to consider" that if Blockley alone had been responsible for passing inside information, it would "not expect to see any remuneration for Mr McKeown".

The Guardian - Sport

Greater prestige still and a claim to imperial hegemony fell to the Saxon rulers when they broke the impetus of the Hungarian (Magyar) invasions, against which the military resources and methods of western European society had almost wholly failed for several decades.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"It is particularly sad, therefore, to find David Bernstein celebrating his CBE by engaging in a megaphone commentary from the sidelines, taking a unilateral swipe at managers, having wholly failed to engage, in any meaningful way, with the LMA and its members during his tenure as FA chairman".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wholly fail" to emphasize the completeness of a failure, particularly when something does not achieve its intended outcome in any way.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "wholly fail" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "completely fail" or "totally fail" in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wholly fail" functions as a verb phrase emphasizing the completeness of the failure. Ludwig AI examples show its use in describing situations where an action or plan has not succeeded in any aspect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "wholly fail" is used to describe a complete lack of success or effectiveness. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and primarily found in news articles and scientific texts. While there are fewer examples of its usage, it is recommended to use similar alternatives in more informal conversations. The phrase carries a strong sense of ineffectiveness and is best used to emphasize complete failures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely fail

Emphasizes the completeness of the failure, synonymous with "wholly fail".

totally fail

Stresses the extent of the failure, similar to "wholly fail" but with a slightly stronger tone.

utterly fail

Highlights the absoluteness of the failure, implying no success whatsoever.

entirely fail

Focuses on the lack of any successful aspect, close in meaning to "wholly fail".

absolutely fail

Emphasizes the certainty of the failure, leaving no room for doubt.

thoroughly fail

Indicates a failure that is comprehensive and leaves nothing untouched.

comprehensively fail

Highlights the all-encompassing nature of the failure.

fundamentally fail

Suggests a failure at the core or most basic level.

altogether fail

Similar to "wholly fail", indicating a complete lack of success.

quite fail

Similar to "wholly fail", indicating a complete lack of success.

FAQs

What does "wholly fail" mean?

The phrase "wholly fail" means to completely or entirely fail; to not succeed at all. It emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the failure.

What are some alternatives to "wholly fail"?

You can use alternatives like "completely fail", "totally fail", or "utterly fail". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "wholly fail" or "completely fail"?

Both "wholly fail" and "completely fail" are correct, but "wholly fail" is slightly more formal. Choose the phrase that best fits the tone and context of your writing.

How can I use "wholly fail" in a sentence?

You can use "wholly fail" to describe an action, project, or endeavor that did not succeed in any aspect. For example: "Despite their best efforts, the project would "wholly fail" to meet the expectations set by the stakeholders."