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Prepositions after fail

Fail in, at, to, on, or for?

Different combinations with fail have different meanings. Some are standard, while others are rare or context-specific.

Quick answer

Which form of fail should you use?

Use fail at for poor performance in an activity. Use fail in for failure within an area or duty. Use fail to plus verb for not doing something. Fail on is mainly used for tests or technical points. Fail for is not standard in modern English for these meanings.

She failed at maths.
The system failed in several areas.
He failed to reply.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
fail at + activity

Perform badly in something

Fail at is used for subjects, skills, and tasks.

I failed at driving lessons.
2
fail in + area

Be unsuccessful within a field or duty

Fail in refers to weakness in a broader area or responsibility.

The company failed in customer service.
3
fail to + verb

Not do something

Fail to is followed by the base form of a verb.

They failed to notice the error.
4
fail on + point/test

Be unsuccessful because of a specific item

Fail on is often used for exams, inspections, or technical requirements.

He failed on the final question.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
fail at
She failed at chemistry.
perform badly in a subject or activity
fail in
The policy failed in practice.
not succeed within an area or context
fail to
We failed to agree.
not do something
fail on
The car failed on emissions.
not pass because of a specific requirement
fail for
Fail for this reason is nonstandard.
not a usual modern English pattern with fail

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using fail to with a noun

Fail to must be followed by a verb.

✕ She failed to the exam. ✓ She failed the exam.

Using fail for instead of fail because of

Fail for is generally not idiomatic in this meaning.

✕ The device failed for low battery. ✓ The device failed because of a low battery.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. He failed ___ answer the email.
2. She failed ___ tennis but loved swimming.
3. The machine failed ___ safety checks.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between fail at and fail in?

Fail at usually refers to activities or skills. Fail in refers to broader areas, systems, or responsibilities.

Is fail to a preposition pattern?

No. To in fail to is part of the infinitive verb form.

Is fail for correct English?

It is not a standard modern pattern for the meanings discussed here.

face, with, face, by facilitate by, in, with, for or through? "fade into", "fade to" or "fade from"? "fall into" or "fall in"? falter in, after, for, on or under? fantasize about, on, of or over? fare in, against, to, as or on? "fascinate by" or "fascinate with"? "fasten to", "fasten on" or "fasten with"? favor by, in, for, from or of? favour by, in, for, over or of? "fear for", "fear in" or "fear of"?

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