a successful attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a successful attempt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an effort that has achieved its intended goal or outcome. Example: "After several trials, the team finally made a successful attempt to launch the new product."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Goldman also had a successful attempt at forecasting Team GB's success in the London 2012 Olympics, predicting 30 gold medals and 65 medals overall.

The Guardian - Sport

We would have seen a succession of failed attempts leading up to possibly a successful attempt.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was a successful attempt.

The Guardian - Books

So, a successful attempt at a quad toe loop could earn a skater 12.8 points.

The New York Times - Sports

It's hard even to call it a successful attempt at propaganda.

The New Yorker

This is Hollywood's attempt at going Vegas, and a successful attempt it is.

The New York Times - Travel

There was news this week of a successful attempt to correct a faulty gene that leads to blindness.

The Economist

This followed a successful attempt to persuade the Danish authorities to arrest Akhmed Zakayev, an aide to Mr Maskhadov.

The Economist

A successful attempt for a regime change in Iran, building on the vast discontent there, is one.

The New York Times

Technology hounds have waited a long time for a successful attempt to mash together a Palm organizer and a cellphone.

The New York Times - Tech

After Danny makes a successful attempt to drink the whole sea, can anyone stop him swallowing things?

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific achievement, use "a successful attempt" to emphasize that the desired outcome was reached despite possible challenges or previous failures. For instance, "The surgery was a successful attempt to remove the tumor completely."

Common error

While "a successful attempt" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "it worked" or "I did it" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a successful attempt" functions as a noun phrase, where "successful" is an adjective modifying the noun "attempt". Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

48%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a successful attempt" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes achieving a goal or objective. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread use across diverse fields such as news, science, and general knowledge. Its register is relatively neutral, and it indicates the accomplishment of a previous effort, and while it's versatile, it's important to consider context and choose appropriate synonyms for tone. The phrase has multiple use cases, from sports to scientific research, and many more. Alternatives include "a successful endeavor", "a fruitful effort" and "a victorious effort".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a successful endeavor

Replaces 'attempt' with 'endeavor', emphasizing a serious and sustained effort.

a fruitful effort

Uses 'fruitful' to highlight the positive results or benefits of the effort.

a victorious effort

Substitutes 'successful' with 'victorious', stressing triumph or overcoming obstacles.

a winning try

Emphasizes a single instance of success, particularly in competitive scenarios.

an effective undertaking

Replaces 'attempt' with 'undertaking', suggesting a project or task, and 'successful' with 'effective' which highlights the achievement of the intended result.

a positive outcome

Shifts the focus to the result itself rather than the effort made.

a realized ambition

Highlights the fulfillment of a long-term goal or aspiration.

a completed task

Focuses on the completion of a specific duty or assignment.

a fulfilled objective

Replaces effort with result, changing from an effort to something more formal and measured.

a favorable result

Like positive outcome, it shifts the focus to the result itself rather than the effort made and can be applied to many formal contexts.

FAQs

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

You can use "a successful attempt" to describe achieving a specific goal, as in "Their project was "a successful attempt" to reduce carbon emissions".

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

"A successful attempt" implies that there might have been previous failures, whereas "a successful effort" simply means the work done yielded positive results.

What are some alternatives to "a successful attempt"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a fruitful endeavor", "a victorious effort", or "a positive outcome".

Is it redundant to say "a very successful attempt"?

While not grammatically incorrect, "a very successful attempt" can sometimes be redundant. Consider if ""a successful attempt"" already conveys the intended level of achievement; if not, more descriptive adjectives might be more effective.