a second attempting to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a second attempting to" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete or awkward construction and may need rephrasing for clarity. Example: "He was a second attempting to solve the problem, but he struggled with the calculations."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"When death comes to a young person... the community as a whole stops for just a second, attempting to catch its breath," a friend of Judy's, Vincent Martino, wrote in the local paper.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Yemeni government made a second attempt to offer support.

The Guardian

Mr. Issa made a second attempt to persuade her to change her mind.

The New York Times

The Patriots are expected to make a second attempt to get Vital soon.

The New York Times - Sports

The House leadership, however, plans a second attempt to pass the bill later this week.

The New York Times

On Lap 64, Hamilton made a first and then a second attempt to pass Alonso, finally succeeding in a third attempt at the end of the lap.

The New York Times - Sports

A second attempt to add a lawsuit shield also failed during discussion of the 2005 energy bill.

The New York Times

It was almost an afterthought when, early last January, the town board made a second attempt to abolish the commission.

The New Yorker

The case arose from a second attempt to question Michael B. Shatzer, a Maryland man suspected of sexually abusing his young son.

The New York Times

Two days later, King led a second attempt to march across the bridge, but with dangerously equivocal results.

The New Yorker

Let us notice that this is a second attempt to generalize AW polynomials.

Advances in Difference Equations

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a second effort, use the phrase "a second attempt at" followed by a noun or gerund (e.g., "a second attempt at solving the problem" or "a second attempt at a solution"). This provides grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "attempting to" directly after "a second". It's more appropriate to use "a second attempt at" or rephrase for clarity. For example, instead of saying "a second attempting to", use "a second attempt at".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a second attempting to" functions as part of a larger sentence, aiming to describe an action being undertaken for a second time. However, its grammatical structure is flawed, as pointed out by Ludwig. It typically requires correction to "a second attempt at/to" for proper usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a second attempting to" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI flags it as needing rephrasing for clarity. The correct forms are "a second attempt at" (followed by a noun or gerund) or "a second attempt to" (followed by a verb in its base form). While sources like The New York Times and BBC are used in the examples, the incorrect grammar impacts the phrase's overall quality. Therefore, it's crucial to use the corrected versions to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity in both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a second attempt at

Replaces "attempting to" with the more grammatically correct "attempt at".

another try to

Uses the simpler term "try" instead of "attempt", making it less formal.

a repeated effort to

Emphasizes the repetitive nature of the effort, adding a slight nuance.

a further endeavor to

Uses "endeavor" for a more formal tone than "attempt".

a follow-up attempt to

Highlights the sequential nature of the attempt, suggesting it follows a previous one.

a subsequent effort to

Similar to "follow-up attempt", but emphasizes the time aspect of the sequence.

a renewed effort to

Suggests that the effort has been refreshed or revitalized.

a second go at

Uses the informal expression "go at" for a more casual tone.

another shot at

Employs the idiomatic expression "shot at", implying a chance or opportunity.

a fresh attempt to

Implies the attempt is new and potentially different from the first.

FAQs

What's the proper way to phrase a repeated attempt?

The correct phrasing is "a second attempt at" or "a second attempt to" followed by a verb in its base form. Using "attempting to" is grammatically incorrect.

Can I use "attempting to" after "second"?

No, it's not grammatically correct. Use "a second attempt at" or "a second attempt to" for proper phrasing.

What are some alternatives to "a second attempt"?

Alternatives include "another try", "a repeated effort", or "a follow-up attempt", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "a second attempt at" and "a second attempt to"?

Yes, "a second attempt at" is followed by a noun or gerund (e.g., "a second attempt at solving"), while "a second attempt to" is followed by the base form of a verb (e.g., "a second attempt to solve").