a worthwhile attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

"a worthwhile attempt" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe an effort or action that is deemed valuable, beneficial, or commendable. Example: Although she knew it would be a difficult journey, she decided to climb Mount Everest. Despite facing many challenges along the way, she considered it a worthwhile attempt and successfully reached the summit.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Allowing prisoners to vote could be a worthwhile attempt at getting those who feel removed from society to participate in a more law-abiding way.

The Guardian

"[C]ritics of the law can't be faulted for fearing that it still leaves ample room for shenanigans," writes Julian Sanchez of the Cato Institute, a libertarian think-tank.Still, the USA Freedom Act remains a worthwhile attempt at reform.

The Economist

He said: "We feel it is important for government to be held to account for these problems and this suggestion by Association of British Commuters is a worthwhile attempt to do this.

The Guardian

A fine idea, but these instruments are in their infancy and have yet to be tested.The petri-dish of financeIf the Vickers proposals do not guarantee an end to the crises that periodically plague finance, they still represent a worthwhile attempt to disentangle the hold that banks exercise over the public purse.

The Economist

But Prentice Hall, acknowledging the risk of lost sales, says the experiment is a worthwhile attempt to earn good will and gain readers among the growing ranks of programmers who work with open-source software like Linux and the Apache Web server.

The New York Times

The Group of 20 statement said that "Japan's recent policy actions are intended to stop deflation and support domestic demand," raising no sense that they are treating Japan's monetary easing as a volley in a currency war, but rather a worthwhile attempt to get a long-suffering economy on track.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

For their part, Fulham were distinctly unambitious in going forward and failed to create a single worthwhile attempt on goal in the first 45 minutes.

The Guardian - Sport

Alison Entrekin has made a brilliant and worthwhile attempt at conveying the meaning and the context of the dialogue, but her part-cockney, part-hip-hop gangsterspeak is, inevitably, a black and white impression of Lins's high-definition colour.

The Guardian - Books

Vishal Bhardwaj's Omkara is a flawed but worthwhile attempt to transfer Othello to the modern setting of Uttar Pradesh in India, and to render the story in a Bollywood style.

The Guardian - Film

Hence, on the backs of our special needs children, a pathetic and hardly worthwhile attempt to save State Money is being carried out.

Huffington Post

Bolton enjoyed the best of a low-grade first half but it still took them 34 minutes to muster a worthwhile goal attempt.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a worthwhile attempt" when you want to convey that an action or effort, despite potential challenges or imperfect outcomes, is valuable and commendable. For instance, "Implementing the new software system was a worthwhile attempt to improve efficiency, even though it initially caused some disruptions."

Common error

Avoid using "a worthwhile attempt" as a generic filler. Ensure that the context genuinely supports the assessment that the attempt has some inherent value or potential benefit. Don't say "It was a worthwhile attempt" without explaining why it was valuable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a worthwhile attempt" functions as a noun phrase, where "worthwhile" is an adjective modifying the noun "attempt". It typically acts as a subject complement or object, describing an action or effort that is considered valuable or beneficial. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a worthwhile attempt" is a grammatically correct and relatively common expression used to describe an action or effort deemed valuable, even if not fully successful. Ludwig AI confirms this. Its usage spans various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific domains, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using the phrase, ensure that the context genuinely supports the assessment of inherent value or potential benefit. Alternatives such as "a valuable endeavor" or "a commendable effort" can provide nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a valuable endeavor

Replaces "attempt" with "endeavor", emphasizing the effort's significance.

a commendable effort

Substitutes "worthwhile attempt" with "commendable effort", highlighting the praiseworthiness of the exertion.

a meaningful undertaking

Replaces "attempt" with "undertaking", suggesting a project with purpose and value.

a significant initiative

Changes "attempt" to "initiative", focusing on the proactive nature and importance of the action.

a fruitful approach

Emphasizes the potential for positive results by using "fruitful" instead of "worthwhile".

a rewarding experience

Shifts the focus to the personal benefit derived from the attempt.

a beneficial activity

Highlights the positive impact or outcome of the activity.

a helpful strategy

Focuses on the practical assistance provided by the attempt.

a constructive measure

Emphasizes the building or improving aspect of the attempt.

a promising step

Highlights the potential for future success of this attempt.

FAQs

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

You can use "a worthwhile attempt" to describe an action or effort that, despite potential challenges or lack of immediate success, holds value and is commendable. For example, "The company's investment in renewable energy was "a worthwhile attempt" to reduce its carbon footprint."

What are some alternatives to saying "a worthwhile attempt"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "a valuable endeavor", "a commendable effort", or "a meaningful undertaking".

Is it correct to say "a worthwhile attempt"?

Yes, "a worthwhile attempt" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It's used to describe an effort that is considered valuable, even if the outcome is not entirely successful.

What makes an attempt "worthwhile"?

An attempt is "worthwhile" if it has some inherent value, potential benefit, or serves a meaningful purpose, regardless of its immediate outcome. It often implies that the effort itself is commendable, even if it falls short of complete success.