after a second attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after a second attempt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was tried again after an initial failure or unsuccessful effort. Example: "After a second attempt, she finally managed to solve the complex puzzle."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Twenty-one of the 28 patients of this group were weaned of RRT after a second attempt, whereas 7 needed more than two attempts (only one patient was re-dialyzed after the seventh day).

Annals of Intensive Care

After a second attempt and a second scolding, he shuffled out of the room with his head down.

Huffington Post

Initially, the aircraft was unable to penetrate into the core of the eye due to severe turbulence; however, they were successful after a second attempt.

Wikipedia

"I panicked," Barbee said, telling me she called the property manager listed on her notice but did not hear back then, nor after a second attempt.

Los Angeles Times

A maximum of two attempts were allowed; the consenting process was stopped if after a second attempt at least one of the questions was not correctly answered (Fig.  2).

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Names of veterans whose personnel files could not be located after identification details were checked and after a second attempt at file retrieval were submitted to the Ministry of Defence for circulation to relevant central departments.

British Medical Journal

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

After repelling a second attempt to take Vienna in 1683, the Austrians and then the Russians began to push back the sultan's frontiers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Jericho escaped one Styles Clash and kicked out after Styles hit a second attempt.

Los Angeles Times

* Pilots decided to make a second attempt after engineers had examined the plane.

Independent

The London-based International Maritime Bureau said that the attack involved 10 pirates in two skiffs armed with automatic weapons and that they managed to board the ship on a second attempt after their first attack was thwarted.

The New York Times

The Motherwell manager felt aggrieved Tansey got the chance of a second attempt after Connor Ripley had saved his first effort.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When precision matters, ensure clarity by specifying the conditions that led to the initial failure and the changes implemented for the second attempt.

Common error

Avoid misusing the phrase with expressions like "after a second thought", which implies reconsideration rather than repeated action. Ensure the context clearly indicates a repeated effort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after a second attempt" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing or condition under which an action occurred. It specifies that something happened only after a repeated effort, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "after a second attempt" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to indicate that an action occurred following a repeated effort. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. While not exceedingly common, it is frequently found in news, media, and scientific contexts. This phrase effectively communicates the importance of persistence and the process leading to an eventual success. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "following a subsequent try" or "on the second try" to maintain clarity and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after trying again

Simplifies the phrase, highlighting the repetition of the effort.

following a subsequent try

Replaces 'attempt' with 'try' and uses 'subsequent' instead of 'second'.

in a second go

Uses the idiomatic expression "second go" for a second attempt.

on the second try

Focuses on the act of trying, omitting 'after' and 'attempt'.

on the heels of a retry

Replaces 'second attempt' with 'retry'.

with a renewed effort

Emphasizes the effort made in the second try.

at the second pass

Employs 'pass' to suggest a second try or iteration.

upon a repeated endeavor

Uses more formal synonyms for 'attempt'.

after the next iteration

Employs "iteration" to imply another round of effort

following another shot

Uses 'shot' as a synonym for attempt, indicating another opportunity.

FAQs

How can I use "after a second attempt" in a sentence?

You can use "after a second attempt" to indicate that something was tried again following an initial failure. For instance, "After a second attempt, she finally solved the puzzle".

What are some alternatives to saying "after a second attempt"?

Alternatives include "following a subsequent try", "on the second try", or "with a renewed effort", depending on the desired emphasis.

Is it more formal to say "after a second attempt" or "on the second try"?

"After a second attempt" is slightly more formal than "on the second try". The former is suitable for professional or academic contexts, while the latter is more conversational.

When should I use "after a second attempt" instead of "after several attempts"?

Use "after a second attempt" when precisely two attempts were made. If more than two attempts were made, use "after several attempts" or "after multiple attempts".