When the stick proved ineffective, the city tried the carrot.

"Since my approach proved ineffective, what course of action do you suggest we take now?"

Efforts at economic reform in Europe have proved both ineffective and unpopular.

Though the strategy proved ineffective during the technology boom of the late 1990's, it has been especially sound over the last three years.

If the cure proved ineffective, he would have only these last two weeks to live.

These tactics proved ineffective, and the road was complete by 2 March.

Previous surgery, at ages 6 and 16, had proved ineffective.

But the Committee of 23 proved ineffective, and the strike began to collapse.

You can pick up the phone later if that conversation proves ineffective.

If fear and humiliation proved ineffective, there were other ways.