abortive attempts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "abortive attempts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe efforts that were unsuccessful or failed to achieve their intended outcome. Example: "Despite several abortive attempts to launch the product, the team remained optimistic about future prospects."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

There have been abortive attempts so far.

The New York Times - Arts

About 25 abortive attempts were made to restore the union.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He made a few abortive attempts at a corporate career, before turning back to international affairs.

The Guardian

Abortive attempts at poetry, most about my ex Danny: DO NOT OPEN.

The New Yorker

Abortive attempts at fiction, some about my ex Danny: See above.

The New Yorker

Unlike Trescothick, Yardy is unlikely to make abortive attempts to resume his England career.

The Guardian - Sport

They did not join the UN until 2002, after several abortive attempts.

The Economist

I write short stories and abortive attempts at novels, and a blog about my life in Brazil.

The Guardian - Sport

However, al-Qaida retained some capacity, as a series of abortive attempts to strike in Europe and elsewhere made clear.

The Guardian

Cohen's abortive attempts to write the book he is supposed to be ghostwriting are reproduced at ineffably tedious length.

The Guardian - Books

After some abortive attempts at fixing the problems, it was eventually conceded that it had to be dismantled.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "abortive attempts" when you want to emphasize that the efforts not only failed, but were cut short or didn't fully develop.

Common error

Avoid using "abortive attempts" simply as a synonym for "failed attempts". "Abortive" suggests that the attempt was prematurely terminated or didn't reach its full potential, not just that it was unsuccessful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abortive attempts" functions as a noun phrase, where "abortive" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "attempts". It describes the nature of the attempts as being unsuccessful and prematurely terminated. According to Ludwig, the phrase is commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Encyclopedias

18%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "abortive attempts" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe unsuccessful efforts that were prematurely terminated. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness in written English. It is frequently found in news media and encyclopedic sources, indicating a neutral register. When using this phrase, remember that "abortive" implies more than just failure; it suggests that the attempt was cut short or did not fully develop. Alternatives such as "fruitless efforts" or "failed initiatives" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abortive efforts

Is a more direct synonym, retaining the original meaning.

unsuccessful endeavors

Emphasizes the lack of success in a more formal tone.

fruitless efforts

Highlights the lack of positive outcome or result.

failed initiatives

Focuses on the failure of specific planned actions or projects.

unproductive measures

Focuses on the lack of output or beneficial results.

futile gestures

Emphasizes the pointlessness or ineffectiveness of the actions.

botched undertakings

Implies that the attempts were poorly executed, leading to failure.

vain strivings

Suggests a sense of hopelessness or lack of progress despite effort.

ill-fated tries

Suggests that the attempts were destined to fail from the beginning.

misguided actions

Highlights that the attempts were based on flawed thinking or planning.

FAQs

What does "abortive attempts" mean?

The phrase "abortive attempts" refers to efforts or attempts that are unsuccessful and prematurely terminated or cut short before fully developing.

How to use "abortive attempts" in a sentence?

You can use "abortive attempts" to describe situations where efforts were made but did not succeed and were stopped early. For example: "After several "failed attempts", they decided to change their strategy."

What can I say instead of "abortive attempts"?

You can use alternatives like "unsuccessful endeavors", "fruitless efforts", or "failed initiatives" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "abortive attempts" and "failed attempts"?

"Abortive attempts" implies that the efforts were not only unsuccessful but also stopped prematurely, while ""failed attempts"" simply means the efforts did not succeed, without necessarily implying premature termination.