a hopeless task

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a hopeless task" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a task that is perceived as impossible or unlikely to succeed. Example: "After several failed attempts to fix the old car, I realized it was a hopeless task."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

It was a hopeless task.

The New York Times - Books

It is a hopeless task.

The Guardian - Books

Needless to say, that's a hopeless task.

The Guardian - Opinion

A hopeless task, some might say.

The New York Times

From the start, it looked a hopeless task.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It is also a hopeless task," Professor Kleck said.

The New York Times

Frankly, it's a hopeless task: lipstick on a pig.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

But the pregame chatter was either a fantasy or just what an overmatched team is trained to say before embarking on a nearly hopeless task.

The New York Times - Sports

The forces of Mr. Izetbegovic, meanwhile, appear to have a virtually hopeless task in trying to break out of the city, as they have already tried unsuccessfully to do on the Trebevic Mountain below the Serbian position.

The New York Times

Theirs is an almost hopeless task, made even more frustrating by the inability of one part of the F.D.A. to share even its most basic information with another.

The New York Times - Magazine

Getting a job is a far from hopeless task for those with the right skills and determination.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a hopeless task" when you want to express that an activity or undertaking is unlikely to yield positive results, despite effort. It's suitable for situations where failure seems almost predetermined.

Common error

While "a hopeless task" is a valid expression, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "futile endeavor" or "lost cause" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a hopeless task" functions as a noun phrase, where "hopeless" modifies "task". It serves to characterize the task as one that is destined to fail. Ludwig provides several examples where it acts as the predicate nominative or as an object of a preposition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a hopeless task" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe an undertaking with little to no chance of success. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and usability in diverse contexts, mainly in News & Media. When using the phrase, consider whether alternatives like "futile endeavor" or "lost cause" might offer a more precise or engaging description. Be mindful of overusing the phrase in your writing to avoid sounding repetitive. Remember that the phrase implies a strong likelihood of failure, so use it judiciously to accurately reflect the situation you are describing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a futile endeavor

Replaces "task" with "endeavor", implying a serious attempt that is ultimately pointless.

an exercise in futility

Emphasizes the lack of value or purpose in the activity.

a lost cause

Highlights the inevitable failure and lack of potential for success.

a pointless effort

Focuses on the lack of any meaningful outcome or result.

an insurmountable challenge

Stresses the overwhelming difficulty and impossibility of overcoming the obstacle.

a mission impossible

Suggests an almost certain failure due to extreme difficulty.

a doomed enterprise

Implies a predetermined and unavoidable failure.

a vain attempt

Highlights the lack of success despite the effort made.

a fool's errand

Suggests a task undertaken with little intelligence or chance of success.

a hopeless case

Shifts focus from the task to a situation or person with little prospect of improvement.

FAQs

What does "a hopeless task" mean?

The phrase "a hopeless task" describes something that is very unlikely to succeed or produce the desired result. It implies that expending effort on it would be futile.

How can I use "a hopeless task" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a situation where success seems impossible. For example, "Trying to convince him to change his mind was "a hopeless task"."

What can I say instead of "a hopeless task"?

You can use alternatives like "a futile endeavor", "a lost cause", or "a pointless effort" to express a similar meaning.

Is it better to describe something as "difficult" or "a hopeless task"?

Describing something as "difficult" suggests it requires effort but is achievable, while "a hopeless task" implies that success is highly improbable or impossible. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the likelihood of success.