student asking question

"fail" and "failure", what's the difference between those two when it's used as a noun?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Good question! "Fail" and "failure" can both be used as nouns and it may be tricky deciding which one to use. As a noun, "fail" is usually used when referring to a failing grade or mark on a test or examination, i.e. a mark that is not high enough to pass. It is not used to refer to people. Ex: I got a fail on my math exam. Ex: This challenge was a fail. I regret trying. On the other hand, "failure," like in this video, refers to a lack of success or one's inability to achieve success in something. You can use this to refer to people. "Fear of failure" is an expression that is often used when expressing people's fear of not being successful or failing in something. In such instances, "failure" can be used. Ex: A: What's holding you back from signing up for the competition? B: Fear of failure. I don't wanna mess up. Ex: The child's parents thought he was a failure, and that greatly affected his self-esteem and confidence.

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