ability to try and

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ability to try and" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's capacity or potential to attempt something, often in a context of effort or willingness. Example: "Her ability to try and learn new skills quickly has impressed her colleagues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"It takes away the ability to try and fail and try and fail again".

The New York Times - Magazine

"China's engagement in Africa is moving further and faster than its ability to try and shape perceptions there," he said.

The New York Times

Desert Golfing offers a fresh experience, thanks to its removal of an elementary feature of most video games: the ability to try and try again.

The New Yorker

"The ability to try and relate to situations is a real challenge for children on the autism spectrum, and so is being flexible with their view of order, timescales and routine; being outdoors challenges this," he explains.

The Guardian

At a meeting here of the R.N.C.'s rules committee, members debated whether to abandon the proportional voting that gave Mitt Romney's rivals the ability to try and accumulate delegates even as they failed to win the nominating contests.

The New York Times

"But at least you've got the ability to try and improve because at the moment you're frozen with what you've got.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

He has ambitions beyond just controlling his school, too, using his abilities to try and take over the world in later books.

The Guardian

Flexibility and rapid experimentation cycles require the ability to try new things and to stop them quickly, admitting mistakes, when they no longer make sense.

Forbes

Faith in the Courts The Bush administration appears to have no faith in the American criminal justice system's ability to try terrorists fairly and openly, despite the fact that prosecutors have successfully brought to justice the men accused of the first World Trade Center bombing and the attack on the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

The New York Times

The benefit to using Google Apps, but also the downside, is that it limits your ability to try other products and services on the market.

TechCrunch

"If I could move beyond race, if I could move beyond the ability to try to hate, and when you look at what happened to us, when you look at what was done, if I could move beyond that to a life of love and service, we all should be able to do it.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ability to try and" to emphasize the importance of experimentation and iterative processes, particularly in contexts where failure is a learning opportunity.

Common error

Avoid repetitive use of "ability to try and" in close proximity. Vary your language by using synonyms such as "capacity to attempt" or "opportunity to experiment" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ability to try and" functions as a noun phrase, describing the capacity or potential for someone or something to make an attempt. Ludwig AI indicates its acceptability. It often appears with a following verb indicating the action being attempted, highlighting the potential for action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ability to try and" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that denotes the capacity or potential to attempt something. According to Ludwig AI, it is perfectly acceptable in written English. While interchangeable with alternatives like "capacity to attempt" or "opportunity to experiment", "ability to try and" specifically emphasizes the iterative and effortful nature of the attempt. It finds common use across News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. When writing, be mindful of potential redundancy and consider varying your language to maintain reader engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capacity to attempt

Emphasizes the inherent potential to make an attempt.

opportunity to experiment

Focuses on having the chance to conduct experiments.

scope to test

Highlights the range or extent available for testing.

room to maneuver

Suggests flexibility and space for trying different approaches.

latitude to explore

Indicates freedom to investigate and try new things.

chance to undertake

Highlights the availability of opportunity.

power to endeavor

Emphasizes the strength and capability to strive.

option to pursue

Focuses on the availability of pursuing possibilities.

freedom to venture

Highlights liberty and willingness to risk.

prospect of initiating

Indicates the likelihood or anticipation of starting something.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "ability to try and" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "capacity to attempt", "potential to undertake", or "capability to endeavor" depending on the specific context. These alternatives offer a more sophisticated nuance while maintaining a similar meaning.

What is a good synonym for "ability to try and" in a business context?

In a business setting, suitable substitutes for "ability to try and" include "opportunity to pilot", "scope to test", or "latitude to explore". These phrases suggest strategic experimentation and innovation.

Is it grammatically correct to say "ability to try and"?

Yes, "ability to try and" is grammatically correct and commonly used. However, ensure that the context justifies the use of "try and" rather than a more direct verb construction. If the 'trying' aspect is not part of the main emphasis, alternatives like "capacity to attempt" may be more appropriate.

When is it best to use "ability to try and" over simply using "ability to try"?

Use "ability to try and" when you want to emphasize the effort, process, or iterative nature of the attempt. In contrast, "ability to try" is suitable when focusing solely on the capability or permission to make an attempt, without necessarily highlighting the process.