after the second attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after the second attempt" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an event or action that occurs following the completion of a second attempt at something. Example: "After the second attempt, we finally managed to solve the problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Most (74%) whistleblowers give up after the second attempt to blow the whistle, fearing reprisals.

The Guardian

After the second attempt, a hint popped up to remind participants that the free charge that serves as the start point had a valence of +1.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Both Garner and Dounoukos come back to Anu Singh's call to get help for Joe around noon on October 26, 1997 the day after the second attempt.

Vice

Michael, ignored in the armchair, interrupts the debate on how to proceed after the second attempt on the Don, as he prepares for blood, "bada-bing" all over his nice Ivy-league suit.

Huffington Post

Both Garner and Dounoukos come back to Anu Singh's triple zero call to get help for Joe around noon on October 26, 1997 the day after the second attempt.

Vice

In order to try to keep to the MO timetable, Takagi was forced to abandon the delivery mission after the second attempt and directed his force towards the Solomon Islands to refuel.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

After hitting the second attempt, San Antonio still had a three point lead, but with 5.2 seconds remaining, Chris Bosh collected James' missed shot, and found Ray Allen in the corner.

The Guardian - Sport

The Argentina forward bundled home at the second attempt after excellent work from the substitute Kevin Gameiro.

The Guardian - Sport

Gary Hooper put the visitors in front at the second attempt after initially heading against the crossbar.

BBC

The midfielder scored at the second attempt after initially being denied by goalkeeper Darren Jamieson.

BBC

Nikica Jelavic doubled the lead at the second attempt after being denied by Tim Krul before Johnny Heitinga headed the third.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process or experiment, consider including the reasons why the first attempt failed before detailing what happened after the second attempt to provide context and a deeper understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "after the second attempt" when only one attempt has been made or when the context does not clearly establish that two attempts preceded the current action. Ensure the number of attempts is accurate to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after the second attempt" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, indicating when an event or action occurred in relation to a previous event. It modifies a verb or clause, providing temporal context. Ludwig AI confirms its proper grammatical usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "after the second attempt" is a temporally focused adverbial phrase used to specify that an action or event took place only following two prior unsuccessful efforts. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and best employed when clarity regarding sequence and persistence is needed. While suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and general writing, ensure the accuracy of the attempt count to avoid misleading the reader. Consider using alternatives like "following the second try" or "subsequent to the second effort" for slight variations in tone or formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following the second try

Replaces 'attempt' with the more informal 'try'.

subsequent to the second effort

More formal alternative, using 'subsequent to' instead of 'after' and 'effort' instead of 'attempt'.

on the second retry

Emphasizes the act of retrying, common in technical contexts.

upon the second endeavor

A more elevated and literary alternative.

after a second go

Informal, using the idiom 'a go' for 'attempt'.

following the second endeavor

More formal than "after the second attempt".

on the second occasion

Focuses on the event happening for the second time.

at the second try

A more concise and direct alternative.

after the second try

A shorter and slightly more informal way of saying "after the second attempt".

with the second repetition

Indicates something happening again, focusing on the repetition.

FAQs

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

You can use "after the second attempt" to describe an outcome that occurs following two previous tries. For example, "After the second attempt, the experiment finally yielded positive results."

What are some alternatives to "after the second attempt"?

Some alternatives include "following the second try", "subsequent to the second effort", or "on the second retry" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "after the second try" or "after the second attempt"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "after the second attempt" is generally considered more formal. The choice depends on the tone and audience of your writing.

What's the difference between "after the first attempt" and "after the second attempt"?

"After the first attempt" indicates something occurred following a single prior try, whereas "after the second attempt" indicates it occurred only after two previous tries. The number is the only difference.