a useful attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a useful attempt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an effort that has value or significance, often in the context of trying to achieve something challenging. Example: "Despite the challenges faced, the team made a useful attempt to solve the complex problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The London meeting, which drew leaders of four dozen countries and international organizations, was a useful attempt to intensify pressure on Colonel Qaddafi and magnify his diplomatic isolation.

The New York Times

Open access it is not, but NPG's latest move looks like a useful attempt to find a compromise between the interests of authors, publishers and subscribers.

The Economist

This is a pity: the document, released by Paul Ryan, the chairman of the House budget committee, is a useful attempt to gather research on 92 different federal programmes and figure out which ones work.

The Economist

It is a useful attempt to summarize varied research in a comprehensive thematic macro model.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

This conclusion is a useful attempt to explain the working principle of the disturbing plate.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

This can be a useful attempt to evaluate efficacy for complex clinical situations in terms of severity of illness, disease and multiple complex treatments.

Annals of Intensive Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In sum, I recommend this book as a genuinely useful attempt to bridge the sciences and the humanities.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

If nothing else, Spotify's new Co.Lab event series is a potentially useful attempt to help new and emerging artists make sense of it all.

TechCrunch

This is an old line, which he continues to use even though it has been established that the bear project was an extremely useful attempt to figure out how many grizzlies Montana has and whether they need continued protection as an endangered species.

The New York Times

These similarities indicated that the species richness maps resulting from this study are a useful first attempt to represent comprehensive species richness patterns at the Mediterranean scale.

Plosone

1. Copp 2003 gives a useful survey of attempts to explicate the "natural" in talk of natural properties and makes an intriguing nonstandard proposal.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a useful attempt" to describe an action that may not have fully succeeded but still provided value or moved towards a solution. It's particularly apt when acknowledging effort in challenging situations.

Common error

Avoid using "a useful attempt" when the effort clearly failed or had negative consequences. Instead, choose a phrase that reflects the lack of positive impact, like "a misguided effort."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a useful attempt" functions as a noun phrase that describes an effort or action. The adjective "useful" modifies the noun "attempt", indicating that the effort provided some benefit, value, or progress, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a useful attempt" is grammatically correct and commonly used, according to Ludwig. It describes an effort that has some value or significance, even if not entirely successful. The phrase is versatile and suitable for a variety of contexts, but particularly common in science and news media. When using this phrase, ensure that the effort genuinely provided some benefit or moved towards a solution, as overstating the outcome can be misleading. Remember that alternative phrases like "a valuable endeavor" or "a helpful effort" can provide similar meaning with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a valuable endeavor

Substitutes "attempt" with "endeavor", emphasizing the effort invested.

a helpful effort

Replaces "useful" with "helpful", highlighting the assistance provided by the effort.

a worthwhile try

Uses "try" instead of "attempt", indicating a less formal approach.

a productive effort

Focuses on the positive outcome of the attempt.

a beneficial endeavor

Highlights the advantageous nature of the undertaking.

a constructive effort

Emphasizes the building or improving aspect of the attempt.

a practical step

Shifts focus to the realistic and applicable nature of the attempt.

a significant effort

Highlights the importance or impact of the attempt.

an advantageous undertaking

More formal and emphasizes the favorable outcome of the attempt.

a successful approach

Suggests the attempt led to a positive result or solution.

FAQs

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

You can use "a useful attempt" to describe an effort that, while not perfect, still contributed positively or moved towards a solution. For example: "The initial strategy wasn't entirely successful, but it was "a useful attempt" to address the problem."

What phrases are similar to "a useful attempt"?

Similar phrases include "a valuable endeavor", "a helpful effort", or "a worthwhile try", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a useful attempt" even if the effort wasn't completely successful?

Yes, "a useful attempt" is suitable when acknowledging an effort that provided some benefit or learning experience, even if the ultimate goal wasn't fully achieved. It recognizes the positive aspects of the effort made.

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

"A useful attempt" implies that the effort had some value or benefit, even if it didn't fully succeed. "A successful attempt", on the other hand, indicates that the effort achieved its intended goal.