To some avail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "To some avail" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been achieved or accomplished to a certain extent, but not completely or fully. Example: "She tried to fix the issue, but to some avail, it still persisted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Based on 28 years of rating migration data on all U.S. RMBS tranches ever rated by Standard & Poor's, Moody's, and Fitch, our findings confirm that multiple ratings are indeed of some avail to investors: We find empirical proof that rating agencies demonstrate more effort with respect to their monitoring activities when tranches have assigned more than one credit rating.

Columbia University

Ireland will, to some extent, avail itself of the same safety valve, as Irish citizens leave in search of work elsewhere and workers who came to Ireland during the boom years depart.

The New York Times - Magazine

To no avail: Daewoo still defaulted on some 100 trillion won of debts.

The Economist

To no avail, though.

Independent

To what avail?

The New York Times

To no avail apparently.

The Economist

To slight avail, however.

The New York Times

To no avail, it seemed.

The New York Times

To little avail, admonitions abound.

The New York Times

To no avail, I'm afraid.

The New Yorker

To no avail; the stories were depressing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to some avail" to acknowledge partial success when the intended outcome wasn't fully achieved. This adds nuance and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "to some avail" when the effort was entirely unsuccessful. In such cases, opt for phrases like "to no avail" or "without success."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to some avail" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating the extent to which an action or effort was successful. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression denotes partial success.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

21%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to some avail" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that indicates partial success. As Ludwig AI validates, its meaning is clear, although its relative infrequency suggests it is not as common as other similar phrases. Predominantly found in news, academic and wiki content, it serves to qualify outcomes with a degree of precision. Alternatives like "to a certain extent" or "partially successful" can be used to convey similar meaning, depending on the desired level of formality and nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

To a certain extent

Implies a limited degree of success or effectiveness.

Partially successful

Directly states that the attempt achieved only partial success.

To a limited degree

Similar to "to a certain extent", but emphasizes the restriction in scope.

With limited success

Highlights the constraint or boundary on the positive outcome.

Somewhat effective

Indicates a moderate level of effectiveness, but not complete.

Not entirely in vain

Suggests that the effort was not completely wasted, implying some positive result.

With mixed results

Indicates that the effort produced both positive and negative outcomes.

To a degree

Shorter and less emphatic version of "to a certain extent".

In part

A very succinct way of expressing partial achievement or success.

With some effect

Highlights that there was an effect, but it was limited or not fully realized.

FAQs

What does "to some avail" mean?

The phrase "to some avail" means that an effort or action had a degree of success, but it was not completely successful. It suggests a partial positive result.

How can I use "to some avail" in a sentence?

You can use "to some avail" to describe attempts that had a limited positive effect. For example: "She tried to fix the issue, but "to some avail", it still persisted."

Which is correct, "to some avail" or "to no avail"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have opposite meanings. "To some avail" indicates partial success, while "to no avail" indicates complete failure. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the outcome of the effort.

What can I say instead of "to some avail"?

You can use alternatives like "to a certain extent", "partially successful", or "to a limited degree" depending on the context.