without fail

USAGE SUMMARY

"without fail" is a perfectly acceptable phrase to use in written English.
It is used when you want to make sure that something will happen, for example: "I will make sure to attend the meeting without fail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Without fail.

The Guardian - Sport

I failed miserably, without fail.

The Guardian - Opinion

Without fail, that worked.

The Guardian - Business

"I'll be in tomorrow without fail".

The New Yorker

And without fail, they came, too.

The New Yorker

But always, without fail, we do".

The New York Times - Books

"Without fail," he noted, "we've overcome them".

The New York Times

"This happens without fail, every single time".

The Guardian - Tech

Without fail, they hung up their clothes.

The New Yorker

Without fail, Ali would pray five times a day.

The New Yorker

Tomorrow, without fail, I will write this play...

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "without fail" to emphasize the importance or reliability of an action, particularly when setting expectations or making commitments.

Common error

Avoid using "without fail" in overly casual conversations. While grammatically correct, its formal tone can sound stiff or unnatural in everyday settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without fail" functions as an adverbial phrase used to emphasize the certainty or inevitability of an action or event. It modifies a verb or clause to stress that something will definitely happen. Ludwig AI confirms this is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

26%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "without fail" is a commonly used adverbial phrase that emphasizes the certainty or inevitability of an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical structure is correct, and its frequent appearance in news media, wikis, and scientific writing confirms its wide acceptability. While best suited for neutral to formal contexts, using it sparingly in informal situations can provide emphasis. Remember that alternatives such as "invariably" or "without exception" can provide similar emphasis with slight shifts in formality. Be aware of the tone to ensure it aligns with your intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without exception

Highlights that there are no exclusions to the stated action or outcome.

invariably

Highlights the consistent nature of an occurrence across instances.

certainly

Emphasizes the sureness of an event, but can sometimes lack the proactive sense of "without fail".

definitely

Indicates a clear and unambiguous outcome or action.

assuredly

Implies a sense of confidence and certainty about an event occurring.

absolutely

Signifies complete agreement or certainty about something.

unquestionably

Stresses that something will happen without any doubt.

for sure

A more informal expression indicating certainty.

come what may

Indicates a commitment regardless of any potential obstacles.

no matter what

Emphasizes resilience and commitment to an action despite potential difficulties.

FAQs

How can I use "without fail" in a sentence?

You can use "without fail" to emphasize the certainty of an action, as in "I will submit the report tomorrow "without fail"".

What's a more formal alternative to "without fail"?

A more formal alternative would be "invariably" or "without exception", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "I will without fail do something"?

While grammatically understandable, it is more common and stylistically preferable to place "without fail" at the end of the sentence or directly before the verb it modifies, such as "I will do it "without fail"" or "I will "without fail" do it".

What's the difference between "without fail" and "certainly"?

"Without fail" implies a higher degree of commitment and reliability, whereas "certainly" simply expresses confidence in an outcome. "I will be there "without fail"" suggests a promise, while "I will certainly be there" expresses strong likelihood.