a decisive effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a decisive effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a strong and determined attempt to achieve a specific goal or outcome. Example: "In order to turn the project around, the team made a decisive effort to meet the tight deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A bang-up job would have featured pushing through a bigger stimulus; imposing harsher terms on bailed out banks; passing a broader "Volcker Rule" with the intent of breaking up financial behemoths; and making a decisive effort to resolve the housing crisis.

The New Yorker

Sunderland failed to create a decisive effort on the visitors' goal as their winless run extended to eight league matches.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A rapid and decisive effort, says the OECD, would be less costly than letting the problems persist.But such a move would require a revolutionary change in the way China's banks and enterprises operate, otherwise the problems will soon reappear.

The Economist

I believe that we must clearly identify the guilty parties and make a responsible and more decisive effort to ensure that the situation in this area finally takes a more positive direction for women.

EU Parlament

The 127km race looked to have panned out perfectly for Armitstead until the final kilometre, as she had remained vigilant and close to the head of affairs until the very last ascent of the short steep pull up to Mirador, where she made what she hoped would be the decisive effort in response to an initial surge by Johansson.

The Guardian - Sport

The goal proved to be the decisive effort as the Red Wings pulled one back late.

The Guardian - Sport

Winger Ismail's decisive effort flew into the bottom corner from outside the box, giving Barry Roche no chance.

BBC

Both players were ready to commit themselves to any reasonable chance even when failure was likely to lead to a few minutes in the non-striker's chair, as decisive efforts of 83 and 64 from Stevens, separated by 99 from McCulloch, saw the gap reduced to a single frame.

The Guardian - Sport

Following talks on Thursday night, EU leaders called for a "substantial and sustainable reduction of the number of illegal entries from Turkey" and "further decisive efforts" from it on the action plan.

The Guardian

Still, "the Olympics gives us the perfect pretext to push ahead, in reforming the cities, in making more and more decisive efforts in reducing poverty," said Mr. de Souza, the political analyst.

The New York Times

The decisive efforts to rescue the Yazidis prove that the U.S. remains the undisputed global leader in humanitarian response.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a decisive effort", ensure the context clearly indicates what the specific goal or outcome is. For example, "The company launched a decisive effort to increase sales in the fourth quarter."

Common error

Avoid using "a decisive effort" to describe actions that are inherently ongoing or lack a clear endpoint. Using it for continuous, non-specific activities weakens its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a decisive effort" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a specific attempt or endeavor characterized by determination and a clear intention to achieve a particular outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a decisive effort" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes a strong and determined attempt to achieve a specific goal. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While not extremely common, it appears in a variety of contexts, particularly in news media and scientific writing. When employing this phrase, ensure the context makes the specific goal apparent and avoid using it for vague or ongoing activities. Alternatives such as "a determined attempt" or "a significant endeavor" can offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a determined attempt

Replaces 'effort' with 'attempt' and 'decisive' with 'determined', focusing on the resolve behind the action.

a significant endeavor

Substitutes 'effort' with 'endeavor' and 'decisive' with 'significant', emphasizing the importance and scale of the undertaking.

a major push

Replaces 'effort' with 'push' and 'decisive' with 'major', highlighting the force and intensity of the action.

a strong initiative

Replaces 'effort' with 'initiative' and 'decisive' with 'strong', focusing on the proactive and impactful nature of the action.

a vigorous action

Substitutes 'effort' with 'action' and 'decisive' with 'vigorous', emphasizing the energy and forcefulness of the action.

a crucial step

Replaces 'effort' with 'step' and 'decisive' with 'crucial', highlighting the importance and necessity of the action.

an impactful move

Substitutes 'effort' with 'move' and 'decisive' with 'impactful', focusing on the significant effect of the action.

a game-changing endeavor

Replaces 'decisive effort' with 'game-changing endeavor', emphasizing that the act has an important effect in a certain situation.

a critical undertaking

Substitutes 'effort' with 'undertaking' and 'decisive' with 'critical', focusing on the high risk and importance of the action.

a breakthrough attempt

Highlights the innovative and pioneering nature of the activity by replacing 'effort' with 'attempt' and 'decisive' with 'breakthrough'.

FAQs

How can I use "a decisive effort" in a sentence?

Use "a decisive effort" to describe a determined attempt to achieve a specific goal. For example, "The team made "a decisive effort" to meet the deadline".

What are some alternatives to "a decisive effort"?

Alternatives include "a determined attempt", "a significant endeavor", or "a major push", depending on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "decisive effort" or "determined effort"?

Both "decisive effort" and "determined effort" are correct, but they emphasize different aspects. "Decisive effort" highlights the impact and finality of the action, while "determined effort" focuses on the resolve and persistence behind it. Choose the one that best fits the context.

When should I use "a decisive effort" instead of "a strong effort"?

"A strong effort" implies general exertion, whereas "a decisive effort" suggests an attempt that aims for a clear and impactful result. Use ""a decisive effort"" when the action is intended to make a significant difference or bring about a resolution.