a failed attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

"a failed attempt" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone was not successful in trying to do something. For example, "The student's first attempt at the exam was a failed attempt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Describes a failed attempt by the three men to reconcile.

The New Yorker

The subject: the Gunpowder Plot, a failed attempt to assassinate the king in 1605.

The New York Times - Arts

More would be sold later, after a failed attempt to salvage the ship.

The New York Times

He faces a £6m legal bill after a failed attempt to sue the twins.

The Guardian - Business

Elbe died in 1931 after a failed attempt to transplant a uterus.

The Guardian - Film

Huge cheers erupted when a failed attempt was made to torch the apartheid South African embassy.

The Guardian - Opinion

That attack came shortly after a failed attempt to seize a town in Sinai.

The Guardian

Or a failed attempt at punctuality in any one of Brazil's four time zones?" – Adam Elder.

The Guardian - Sport

And "Baidu," without diacritics, can mean "a failed attempt to poison" or "making a religion of gambling".

The New York Times

Each of the components in the sequence would be identified with a failed attempt.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

Graff's one U.S. misstep: a failed attempt to open a store in Beverly Hills.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the reason or result of "a failed attempt", be specific. Instead of saying "It was a failed attempt", explain why it failed, such as "The rescue mission was a failed attempt due to the severe weather conditions."

Common error

Avoid redundant phrasing such as "complete failed attempt". The word "failed" already implies that the attempt was not successful, so adding words like "complete" or "total" is unnecessary and weakens the writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a failed attempt" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and widely used. It describes an action or endeavor that did not achieve its intended outcome.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

27%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a failed attempt" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe an unsuccessful effort. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase appears across diverse contexts, including news, science, and general writing. When using "a failed attempt", it's best to be specific about the reasons for the failure and to avoid redundant phrasing. Alternatives such as "unsuccessful effort" or "fruitless endeavor" can add variety to your writing while maintaining clarity. Remember to choose the alternative that best fits the context and desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsuccessful effort

Replaces 'attempt' with 'effort' and 'failed' with 'unsuccessful', maintaining a similar level of formality.

abortive effort

Uses 'abortive', implying that the effort was cut short or didn't achieve its goal.

fruitless endeavor

Substitutes both words, suggesting that the attempt yielded no positive results.

unavailing effort

Similar to 'fruitless', but emphasizes that the effort was ineffective.

futile try

Simple substitution of 'failed' and 'attempt' with near synonyms.

botched attempt

Indicates the attempt was poorly executed, leading to failure.

abortive undertaking

More formal than 'effort', indicating a project or task that didn't come to fruition.

unsuccessful bid

Often used in contexts involving competitions, elections or attempts to acquire something.

miscarriage

A failure to meet some intended goal, often in law or justice.

nonstarter

Implies the attempt was doomed from the beginning and had no chance of success.

FAQs

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

You can use "a failed attempt" to describe an action that did not succeed. For example, "The company's launch of a new product was "a failed attempt" to increase market share."

What are some alternatives to "a failed attempt"?

Alternatives include "unsuccessful effort", "fruitless endeavor", or "abortive effort", depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "a complete failed attempt"?

Yes, it is redundant. The word "failed" already implies a lack of success, so adding "complete" is unnecessary. Simply use ""a failed attempt"".

What is the difference between "a failed attempt" and "an unsuccessful attempt"?

The phrases ""a failed attempt"" and "an unsuccessful attempt" are largely synonymous and can often be used interchangeably. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.