a commendable attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

"a commendable attempt" is correct and commonly used in written English.
This phrase can be used to describe a notable or praiseworthy effort made by someone. Some examples of when this phrase could be used include: - "The students put forth a commendable attempt at solving the difficult math problem." - "Despite facing many obstacles, the team made a commendable attempt to reach the top of the mountain." - "I applaud your commendable attempt to learn a new language on your own."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"I'm gonna treat you all like Denzel would treat you," Hanks began, before launching into a commendable attempt.

Independent

The production is a commendable attempt to shine a light into an obscure byway of the classical canon, but memorably moving or memorably funny it is not.

The New York Times

Forster's point about novelists sitting in a circle was a commendable attempt to avoid any Whiggish sense that they are somehow improving on their predecessors.

The Guardian - Books

The NCAA's response to the scandal was a commendable attempt at behavior modification.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The Big History project is an admirable attempt by Professor David Christian to make history interesting to students (and a commendable effort by Bill Gates to make it more accessible).

Huffington Post

As for food, Barley Vine makes a commendable effort at keeping its prices affordable.

The New York Times

Yale University's Environmental Sustainability Index is certainly a commendable effort but is too complicated.

The Economist

It's a commendable effort by Miliband to normalize new-media engagements in his public diplomacy.

The New Yorker

Perez has made a commendable effort rounding up archival footage, photographs and interviewees.

Los Angeles Times

PGA is making a commendable effort in Pakistan and South Asia to improve HIV awareness on a governmental level.

Health Research Policy and Systems

But despite Ek's commendable attempts to make things right, there's certain to be a huge backlash from European users, and also from a European startup community that has celebrated Spotify as one of the few home-grown Euro success stories.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a commendable attempt" to positively acknowledge an effort, even if the outcome was not entirely successful. It emphasizes the value of trying.

Common error

Avoid using "a commendable attempt" sarcastically, as it can undermine the intended positive message and come across as condescending.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a commendable attempt" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, specifically highlighting a noteworthy and praiseworthy effort. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase appears in diverse written sources to positively value someone's effort.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a commendable attempt" is a phrase used to positively acknowledge an effort, often when the outcome isn't entirely successful. It's grammatically correct and, as Ludwig AI notes, suitable for various contexts, primarily news and media. While its tone is generally positive, care should be taken to avoid sarcastic use. Alternative phrases like "a praiseworthy effort" or "an admirable endeavor" offer similar expressions of approval. The phrase functions as an adjective modifying a noun, highlighting the praiseworthy nature of an effort. The analyses show its prevalence in the News & Media category and it appears uncommonly in comparison to others.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a praiseworthy effort

Switches the focus from the attempt itself to the effort involved, emphasizing the worthiness of praise.

an admirable endeavor

Replaces "attempt" with "endeavor", suggesting a more significant and purposeful undertaking.

a creditable effort

Uses "creditable" to highlight the worthiness and respectability of the effort.

a noteworthy undertaking

Emphasizes that the attempt is deserving of attention and recognition.

a laudable action

Shifts the focus to a specific action, emphasizing its praiseworthiness.

a valuable endeavor

Highlights the importance and potential benefits of the attempt.

a meritorious undertaking

Emphasizes the deserving nature of the attempt, often in a formal context.

an estimable effort

Uses "estimable" to suggest the effort is worthy of respect and admiration.

a sterling effort

Uses "sterling" to describe the high quality and worth of the attempt.

a respectable try

Uses "respectable" and the more informal "try" to indicate a decent but possibly unsuccessful effort.

FAQs

What does "a commendable attempt" mean?

It means an effort or try that is worthy of praise and recognition, often used when the outcome may not have been fully successful but the effort was still valuable.

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

You can use alternatives like "a praiseworthy effort", "an admirable endeavor", or "a creditable effort" depending on the context.

How to use "a commendable attempt" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe someone's effort, for instance: "Despite the challenges, the team made "a commendable attempt" to complete the project on time." or "His impression of Denzel Washington was "a commendable attempt"".

Is "a commendable attempt" always used in a positive way?

While primarily positive, its tone can shift with context. Avoid using it sarcastically to prevent misinterpretation.