How Do You Spell PASS FAIL?

Pronunciation: [pˈas fˈe͡ɪl] (IPA)

The phrase "pass fail" refers to a grading system in which a student either passes or fails a particular course, with no in-between grade options. The spelling of this phrase is straightforward and follows standard English pronunciation rules. The word "pass" is spelled with the phonetic transcription /pæs/, as in the sound of the letter "p" followed by the open vowel sound of "a". Similarly, the word "fail" is spelled with the phonetic transcription /feɪl/, ending with the long vowel sound of "ai" and the consonant sound of "l".

Meaning and Definition
Etymology
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PASS FAIL Meaning and Definition

  1. Pass/fail is an evaluative system used in educational settings that determines whether a student has successfully met the requirements of a course or an assignment. Instead of assigning traditional letter grades such as A, B, C, and so on, a pass/fail system simply indicates whether the student has passed or failed.

    In a pass/fail system, if a student meets the minimum criteria established by the institution or instructor, they will receive a "pass" on their record. On the other hand, if they fail to meet these criteria, they will receive a "fail" designation. Unlike letter grades, a pass/fail system does not provide any further detail regarding the student's level of proficiency or performance within the course.

    The pass/fail system is often used in courses or assignments that emphasize participation, effort, or the acquisition of basic knowledge rather than the mastery of a specific skillset. By adopting this system, educators aim to reduce stress and anxiety associated with grading and promote a more holistic focus on the learning process.

    However, it is worth noting that the pass/fail system may have limitations in certain contexts. For instance, in academic programs that require a certain level of mastery for prerequisites or subsequent courses, letter grades might be preferred to differentiate between different levels of achievement. Nonetheless, the pass/fail system plays a significant role in educational institutions by offering an alternative approach to evaluation that prioritizes overall success rather than numerical or alphabetical rankings.

Etymology of PASS FAIL

The term "pass-fail" originated from combining the separate words "pass" and "fail" to form a hyphenated compound. Each word has its own etymology:

1. Pass: The word "pass" has its roots in Middle English, traceable back to Old French "passer" (to go by, pass). It ultimately derived from Latin "passare" (to step, pass).

2. Fail: The word "fail" comes from Middle English "failen", which can be linked to Anglo-French "faillir" and Old French "faillir". Both these French words came from Latin "fallere" (to deceive, disappoint).

When combined as "pass-fail", the term implies a grading system in which students are simply marked as either passing or failing, without receiving specific letter grades.