a formidable effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a formidable effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or impressive amount of work or determination put into a task or project. Example: "The team put forth a formidable effort to complete the project ahead of schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Creating effective machine translation software requires a formidable effort.

The New York Times - Tech

In the mid-1990s, Greece made a formidable effort to meet the convergence criteria.

The Guardian

Indeed, it is in Dr Smith's name that the paper announcing the synthesis is published along, of course, with the 16 others including Dr Venter himself.It is a formidable effort.

The Economist

The news raised fears that Japan may slip back into deflation, despite a formidable effort by the central bank over the past two years to break the country's deflationary spiral.Consumer prices in the euro zone fell by 0.1% year on year in March.

The Economist

Mr. Bush's second-place showing in New Hampshire will probably narrow the race here by blemishing his image as a certain winner, but just as South Carolina turned back Patrick J. Buchanan's strength in New Hampshire in 1992 and 1996, it will require Mr. McCain to expend a formidable effort to close the gap.

The New York Times

It will take a formidable effort and redeployment of funds (e.g., away from efforts to improve animal models) to achieve the new paradigm of a multiscale pathways-based, humultiscale pathways-baseddisease research.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The insignificant divergence of 0.07% of GDP from the treaty limit, which was adopted uncritically by the administration of the eurozone, thus became the reason to disparage a very formidable effort of economic adjustment.

The Guardian

No wonder electronics giant Samsung has invested huge sums into developing graphene as a material for screens and electronics; Nokia is backing a billion-euro project to exploit the carbon material and IBM has started a formidable research effort.

BBC

So in conclusion: maybe, but that's not to take anything away from an incredible piece of visual film-making backed by a formidable marketing effort from the studio.

The Guardian - Film

Hence, definitive structure elucidation of such metabolites would have to be based on isolated compounds and required a formidable analytical effort.

AMB Express

It is of note however, that the National Tuberculosis Program has institute a formidable supervisory effort that is a model to other countries [ 23- 25].

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a formidable effort" when you want to emphasize not only the amount of work done, but also the skill, determination and strength required to achieve it. It's often more impactful than simply saying "a big effort".

Common error

Avoid using "a formidable effort" to describe simple or routine tasks. The word 'formidable' implies a significant challenge or obstacle, so reserve this phrase for situations where the effort truly stands out.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a formidable effort" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "formidable" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "effort". It describes the quality of the effort being exerted, emphasizing its impressiveness or difficulty. Ludwig examples demonstrate this in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a formidable effort" is a phrase used to describe an impressive and substantial undertaking that requires significant skill and determination. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English, although its frequency is uncommon. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, it is a useful expression for conveying the magnitude and impact of a particular endeavor. When writing, remember to reserve this phrase for situations that genuinely deserve the description of "formidable", and consider alternatives like "a tremendous undertaking" or "an impressive exertion" to avoid overuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tremendous undertaking

Focuses more on the scale and complexity of the task.

a significant endeavor

Highlights the importance and potential impact of the effort.

an impressive exertion

Emphasizes the energy and strength applied.

a Herculean task

Implies an extremely difficult and demanding effort, referencing the labors of Hercules.

a monumental attempt

Suggests the effort is grand in scale and possibly historically significant.

a considerable struggle

Highlights the difficulty and resistance encountered.

a valiant endeavor

Emphasizes courage and determination in the face of challenges.

a powerful initiative

Focuses on the driving force and strategic nature of the effort.

a noteworthy enterprise

Highlights the interesting or remarkable aspects of effort.

a remarkable feat

Implies a high level of skill and accomplishment.

FAQs

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

Use "a formidable effort" to describe a situation where a lot of work, skill, and determination were required. For example: "The team made "a formidable effort" to meet the deadline despite numerous obstacles."

What can I say instead of "a formidable effort"?

You can use alternatives such as "a tremendous undertaking", "a significant endeavor", or "an impressive exertion" depending on the context.

Is "a formidable effort" formal or informal?

"A formidable effort" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it's more commonly found in professional or journalistic writing. Consider your audience when choosing between this phrase and a more casual alternative.

What makes "a formidable effort" different from "a big effort"?

"A formidable effort" implies not just size, but also the impressive nature and the challenges overcome. "A big effort" simply suggests a large amount of work, without necessarily highlighting the difficulty or skill involved.