failed to control VS failed in not controlling for

[Aquamarine]

How do these two differ in meaning ?
1. "failed to control for"
2. "failed in not controlling for"

Thanks !

[arnabgangully]

HI AquaMarine,

Please post the complete context.

[Willy]

How do these two differ in meaning ?
1. "failed to control for"
2. "failed in not controlling for"

Thanks !

1. I am not sure whether 'control for' is a right construction but I believe it would mean in a sentence that something/someone failed to control.

2. I believe here using 'failed' and 'not controlling for' would turn the sentence into double negative and would mean 'control'.

[jlucero]

There's a bunch of idioms here hidden within idioms:

1-
Failed to X (verb)
Failed in Y (noun)

"to" leads into an infinitive verb. So if you want to say you failed at doing something, you'd probably prefer the first expression. If you failed in a task or subject, you'd probably use the second expression.

I failed to run a mile.
I failed in math.

2-
To control X (something)

you wouldn't want "to control for something." you would want "to control X for something." You need to control something. The "for" would tell us why you are controlling it.

Therefore, depending on the meaning of the sentence, you would need to fix up either of your options.

[Willy]

Thank you sir, your explanation was really helpful.

[tim]

:)