a great attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a great attempt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an effort that is commendable or noteworthy, often in the context of trying to achieve something challenging. Example: "Despite the challenges they faced, their project was a great attempt at innovation in the field."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Not a great attempt from the England defender.

BBC

Snackr is a great attempt at solving the info overload problem.

TechCrunch

Grandmaster Versus Amateur, edited by Jacob Aagaard and John Shaw, is a great attempt by several grandmasters to map their paths to the grandmaster title.

Huffington Post

I felt like it would open a lot of doors for me; although it is not exactly college, it is still focused in the career field that I love and a great attempt to better myself in life".

Huffington Post

To everyone's surprise, the owner realized that "foolishness is tied up with a heart of a boy (or girl)." In a great attempt to show mercy while still within his right to press charges, he offered the group of kids an alternative punishment outside of the legal system: to come assist them with any drug concerns they may have.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In the current Broadway revival of "West Side Story" the creative team drew widespread notice this spring for having Lin-Manuel Miranda translate some English lyrics by Stephen Sondheim into Spanish, as part of a greater attempt at authenticity for Puerto Rican characters like Anita.

The New York Times

May his death and those of so many others remind us all of how important it is to make a greater attempt at every institution to identify, appreciate, and be responsive to those who have made such profound sacrifices on behalf of the many.

Huffington Post

Close monitoring of incidence in young women and a greater attempt to reverse the current decline in screening coverage of women aged 25 29 years are recommended.

British Journal of Cancer

The other opinion is that a greater attempt is being made at admission avoidance measures by the Emergency Medicine staff in order to alleviate the problem of overcrowding.

Emergency Medicine Journal

CAM therapists were perceived as making a greater attempt than COM providers to individualise care so that patients could experience a relaxed, supportive environment that also attended to the purely hedonistic aspects of patient care (e.g., relaxing environment with music); also important to this experience was the provision of therapeutic CAM-based care throughout the patient encounter.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

While STRATEGIC trial is underway to explore various strategies to improve the uptake of cervical screening in young women (Kitchener, 2011), we recommend close surveillance of incidence in younger women over the coming years and a greater attempt to reverse the current decline in screening coverage for women aged 25 29 years.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a great attempt", consider following it with specific details about what made the attempt praiseworthy. This adds depth and sincerity to your comment.

Common error

Avoid simply stating "a great attempt" without providing specific reasons why the effort was commendable. Generic praise can sound insincere and doesn't offer actionable insight for improvement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a great attempt" functions as an adjective phrase modifying the noun "attempt". It serves to describe and positively evaluate an effort made towards achieving a goal, as seen in Ludwig examples where efforts in sports, problem-solving, and self-improvement are described.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a great attempt" is a grammatically sound phrase used to positively describe an effort or undertaking. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and suitability in various contexts. While relatively uncommon, it appears across diverse sources like News & Media, Science, and Academia, suggesting its versatility. When using this phrase, remember to provide specific feedback to enhance its impact and avoid vague praise. Alternatives such as "a valiant effort" or "a commendable initiative" can add nuance and formality as needed. It serves well for acknowledging effort with a positive outlook.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a commendable initiative

Emphasizes the praiseworthy nature of the attempt.

a determined effort

Stresses the persistence and resolve involved in the attempt.

a valiant effort

Emphasizes the courage and determination behind the attempt.

a spirited try

Suggests enthusiasm and energy in the attempt.

a noble endeavor

Highlights the admirable or moral quality of the undertaking.

a noteworthy endeavor

Highlights the attempt's significance and memorability.

a significant undertaking

Focuses on the importance and scale of the attempt.

an ambitious project

Highlights the scale and reach of the attempt.

a bold move

Implies risk-taking and daring in the attempt.

a creditable performance

Focuses on the quality and skill displayed during the attempt.

FAQs

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

You can use "a great attempt" to commend someone's effort, such as, "Their presentation was "a great attempt" at explaining the complex topic, even though some parts were unclear".

What's a more formal way to say "a great attempt"?

For a more formal tone, you could say "a commendable effort" or "an admirable endeavor". These alternatives maintain a respectful tone while acknowledging the positive aspects of the undertaking.

Is it always appropriate to use "a great attempt", even if the outcome was poor?

While "a great attempt" acknowledges effort, it's important to balance praise with constructive feedback. If the outcome was significantly flawed, consider framing it as "a valiant effort with room for improvement" to soften the impact.

What's the difference between "a great attempt" and "a successful attempt"?

"A great attempt" focuses on the quality of the effort, while "a successful attempt" emphasizes the positive outcome. You'd use the former when you want to praise effort regardless of the result, and the latter when the goal was achieved.