a careful attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a careful attempt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an effort that is made with attention to detail or caution. Example: "After much deliberation, she made a careful attempt to address the concerns raised by her colleagues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

It is a careful attempt to weave together the histories of both family and festival, not ducking the Nazi era, yet still leaving plenty of detail for specialists to uncover.

The Economist

This visceral response served as a foundation for my work at the commission, prompting me to frame our entire inquiry as a careful attempt to unravel the "dilemma of growth".

The Guardian

Western diplomats say the reliance on Afghan émigrés is a careful attempt to avoid fueling the fierce Afghan nationalism that brought invading British and Soviet troops to their knees here.

The New York Times

Osborne's upbeat language on the economy was a careful attempt to avoid the ridicule that one of his predecessors, Lord Lamont, faced in 1991 after claiming "green shoots of economic spring" were appearing in the middle of a recession.

The Guardian - Business

A careful attempt was made to take into account and include every possible feedback from respondents, verbal or non-verbal (that is attitudinal).

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

Among other things, a careful attempt to test its effects would have to distinguish between very different approaches to the teaching of informal reasoning.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Indeed few made a more careful attempt to weigh those risks than May herself in a lengthy speech on 25 April.

The Guardian

Whatever these patients struggled with -- and psychiatric diagnosis, for all its improvement, is still an imperfect art -- the careful attempt to make sense of their problems and the fundamental belief in their capacity to be responsible human beings would have helped a good deal.

The New York Times - Books

Strong causal inference is challenging in the absence of ex ante evaluation design or natural experiments, and our aim is to make a careful and measured attempt to estimate the Global Fund's impacts despite the challenging causal landscape.

BMC Public Health

The difference between matched and unmatched models in the odds of preterm birth and low birth weight suggests that the associations of increased risk at short intervals reported in the literature may be an artefact of unmeasured or inadequately specified confounders, despite careful attempts to adjust models.

British Medical Journal

Despite the administration's careful attempts not to get involved, they made themselves a vital player the moment Obama declared his red line policy and even more so when the red line was repeatedly crossed, culminating in various chemical weapons attacks against civilians.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a careful attempt", ensure the context clarifies the specific area where care and attention are applied. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a careful attempt" when the outcome clearly demonstrates a lack of care or precision. Using it in such contexts undermines credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a careful attempt" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes an action or endeavor undertaken with considerable attention to detail and precision. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

7%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a careful attempt" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe an action undertaken with attention to detail and precision. While not exceedingly common, it appears across various contexts, including news, scientific research, and general writing. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage, confirming that the phrase is appropriate when emphasizing the diligence and planning involved in an endeavor. Related phrases like "a considered effort" and "a meticulous undertaking" offer similar meanings with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considered effort

Emphasizes the thoughtfulness and deliberation involved in the attempt.

a cautious endeavor

Highlights the prudence and risk-averse nature of the undertaking.

a meticulous undertaking

Stresses the precision and thoroughness applied to the effort.

a deliberate action

Focuses on the intentional and planned nature of the attempt.

a thoughtful approach

Highlights the reflective and analytical aspect of the attempt.

a studied effort

Implies a systematic and well-researched attempt.

a mindful endeavor

Emphasizes the awareness and attentiveness during the attempt.

a circumspect move

Suggests a guarded and wary approach to the attempt.

a prudent measure

Highlights the careful and sensible nature of the attempt.

a well-considered plan

Focuses on the detailed and thoughtful planning behind the attempt.

FAQs

How can I use "a careful attempt" in a sentence?

"A careful attempt" is used to describe an action undertaken with precision and attention. For example, "The surgeon made "a careful attempt" to repair the damaged tissue".

What can I say instead of "a careful attempt"?

You can use alternatives like "a considered effort", "a cautious endeavor", or "a meticulous undertaking" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a careful attempt" or "a careful effort"?

Both ""a careful attempt"" and "a careful effort" are correct, but "attempt" implies a specific instance of trying, while "effort" suggests sustained exertion.

What's the difference between "a careful attempt" and "an attempt"?

Adding "careful" to "attempt" emphasizes that the action was performed with great attention to detail and precision, suggesting a higher degree of diligence than a simple "attempt".