whose failure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whose failure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the failure of a person or entity in a context where possession or association is being indicated. Example: "The project was delayed due to the team's lack of communication, whose failure to collaborate effectively led to misunderstandings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Maybe; but whose failure?

The New Yorker

First, save only those whose failure would have disastrous consequences for the country.

The New York Times

Minimize the number of institutions whose failure would matter and subject them to tougher regulation.

The New York Times

Lehman Brothers, whose failure helped precipitate the crisis, was also highly leveraged.

The New York Times

But whose failure was it: the protesters or those they protested against?

The Guardian - Opinion

For that blame Lehman, whose failure now hangs poisonously over the relationship between hedge funds and prime brokers.

The Economist

The feeder cable whose failure caused the power loss on the New Haven line was operated by Consolidated Edison.

The New York Times

Toro Rosso driver Jean-Eric Vergne, whose failure occurred as he reached 180mph at the end of the Hangar Straight.

Independent

Penn State's board was right to dismiss Joe Paterno, whose failure to act had tragic consequences for Jerry Sandusky's victims.

The New York Times

He also opened, in Blackpool and Portugal, clubs whose failure led him to declare himself bankrupt twice.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

One year Merton dropped out and the producers tried various substitutes, whose failure Merton watched with undisguised glee.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "whose failure" to clearly indicate the possessor or entity to which the failure is attributed. This helps avoid ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "whose" (possessive) with "who's" (who is). "Whose failure" correctly shows ownership or association, while "who's failure" is grammatically incorrect in this context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whose failure" functions as a possessive determiner followed by a noun. It connects a failure to the entity or person responsible for it, indicating ownership or association. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "whose failure" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to attribute responsibility for a failure. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It's commonly found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. To ensure clarity, it's important to differentiate between "whose" and "who's". When looking for alternative expressions, consider options like "the failure of" or "responsibility for" depending on the specific context you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the failure of whom

This alternative emphasizes the person or entity responsible for the failure, using a more formal tone.

failure attributable to whom

This phrase highlights the cause-and-effect relationship, pinpointing who or what the failure can be traced back to.

the responsibility for whose failure

This option focuses on accountability and ownership of the failure.

whose responsibility for the failure

Similar to the above, but with a slightly different word order, emphasizing the role of responsibility.

the failing of whom

This option uses "failing" as a noun, offering a slightly less common but still understandable alternative.

the origin of whose failure

This alternative highlights the source or root cause of the failure.

the reason for whose failure

Focuses on the explanation or justification behind the failure.

the fault in whose failure

Highlights the error or mistake that led to the failure.

the problem with whose failure

This focuses on the issue or difficulty associated with the failure.

whose mistake caused the failure

Directly states that a mistake led to the failure, attributing it to someone.

FAQs

How can I use "whose failure" in a sentence?

You can use "whose failure" to attribute a failure to a specific person or entity. For example, "The project's delay was a result of the team lead, "whose failure" to delegate tasks effectively caused significant bottlenecks."

What are some alternatives to using "whose failure"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "the "failure of"", "the "responsibility for"", or "the "reason for"" to express a similar idea.

Is it correct to say "who's failure" instead of "whose failure"?

No, "who's failure" is grammatically incorrect. "Whose" is the possessive form of "who", while "who's" is a contraction of "who is" or "who has". Use ""whose failure"" to correctly indicate possession or association.

What's the difference between "whose failure" and "the failure of"?

"Whose failure" directly attributes the failure to a specific entity (e.g., "the company "whose failure" led to bankruptcy"). "The failure of" is more general and can refer to the failure itself without necessarily emphasizing the responsible party (e.g., "The failure of the project was due to poor planning").