a fair try

USAGE SUMMARY

"a fair try" is a grammatically correct phrase that is commonly used in written English.
It means making an attempt or effort in a just and honest manner. Example sentence: "I know the exam was difficult, but I still want to give it a fair try and see how well I can do."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

But he was determined to give it a fair try.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We don't have to believe it, but it's a fair try.

The New York Times

Vatuvei had a try disallowed because Goodwin stepped out of touch, but soon after Goodwin's inside pass gave Vatuvei a fair try.

The Guardian - Sport

Ms. Schmerken, the magazine writer, seemed to speak for most commuters when she said she had mixed feelings but would withhold judgment until she had given the valet service a fair try.

The New York Times

With Secretary of State Colin L. Powell personally steering the globe-spanning negotiations, and Mr. Bush himself frequently picking up the phone, several envoys from nonpermanent member nations said the Council had been persuaded that a skeptical administration gave multilateralism a fair try.

The New York Times

But it seems I have not given the commercial self-care "movement" a fair try.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Liberals act like associate producers at a folk fair trying to choreograph the welcoming dance of converging cultures failing to notice the ragged band of Conservatives lighting torches and running headlong towards them up the castle hill armed with pitchforks.

Huffington Post

If you don't think it's a fair reason, try again next time and you will probably win.

WikiHow

Once you learned a fair bit, try seeing if you can do some stable hand training.

WikiHow

Find a few that your horse likes and start making them and offer a set amount for a fair price, try to beat the feed store if you can.

WikiHow

The metric is referred to as envy-freeness and a fair system tries to maximize envy freeness (minimize envy).

Journal of Cloud Computing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a fair try" when you want to emphasize that an attempt was made with honesty and without bias. It implies a commitment to impartiality in the process, even if the outcome is uncertain.

Common error

Avoid using "a fair try" when you actually mean the action of trying to be fair. For instance, instead of saying 'They gave the task a fair try,' say 'They tried to be fair in assigning the task' if the focus is on the act of ensuring fairness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fair try" functions as a noun phrase that describes an attempt or effort made in a just and unbiased manner. As seen in Ludwig, it often appears as the object of a verb, such as 'give' or 'make', indicating the act of undertaking such an attempt.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academic

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a fair try" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe an attempt that is made with honesty and impartiality. According to Ludwig, the expression is employed across various contexts, including news, general writing, and scientific discourse, indicating its versatility. It's crucial to differentiate between using "a fair try" to describe the attempt itself versus using "trying to be fair" to describe the action of ensuring equity. Remember, using "a fair try" emphasizes that the attempt was made with the intention of justice and equity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a sincere effort

Focuses on the genuineness of the attempt.

an honest attempt

Emphasizes the integrity of the try.

a genuine effort

Highlights the authenticity of the attempt.

a legitimate attempt

Stresses the validity and acceptability of the try.

a reasonable attempt

Indicates that the effort was justifiable and sensible.

a valiant effort

Conveys a sense of courage and determination in the try.

a good-faith effort

Highlights the honesty and sincerity in the attempt.

a credible attempt

Emphasizes the believability and trustworthiness of the try.

a solid attempt

Focuses on the strength and dependability of the try.

a determined effort

Highlights the resoluteness in the attempt.

FAQs

How can I use "a fair try" in a sentence?

You can use "a fair try" to describe an honest attempt. For example, "Although she was nervous, she decided to give the presentation "a fair try"."

What is a synonym for "a fair try"?

A synonym for "a fair try" is "a sincere effort", which emphasizes the genuineness of the attempt.

What does "a fair try" imply?

"A fair try" implies that an attempt was made with impartiality and honesty, without any preconceived biases influencing the process or outcome.

Is it better to say "a fair try" or "trying to be fair"?

It depends on the context. Use ""a fair try"" when describing the attempt itself. Use "trying to be fair" when describing the action of ensuring impartiality.