an attempt to distort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an attempt to distort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing efforts to misrepresent or alter the truth of a situation or information. Example: "The article was criticized for being an attempt to distort the facts surrounding the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

If this is not an attempt to distort the NHS budget, why not make it transparent?

The Guardian - Opinion

Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, a spokesman for the Democrat Party, described the murder charge as an "attempt to distort the judicial system".

The New York Times

He called it an attempt to distort the truth and seek confrontation with the country's Arab population.

The Guardian

Mr. Lipper's supporters say they find it hard to believe that he would be involved in an attempt to distort the fund's value.

The New York Times

The Republicans' Swift boat ads are an attempt to distort the historical record; John Kerry's statements on trade are a policy position with which Nicholas D. Kristof disagrees.

The New York Times

One worry about a trial of Saddam Hussein, in fact, may be that his defense will become an attempt to distort the moral field, ignoring differences in scale, arguing that the accusers, too, have dirt on their hands.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

In weathering the fire and winning the election, Mr. Kennedy gently cautioned the nation to oppose any attempt to distort the presidency by "making it an instrument of one religious group".

The New York Times

"It's a shame that as parties take steps in trying to open up politics to include more supporters and members of the public in sharing big decisions, it has not taken long for a cynical attempt to distort that and sabotage a genuine effort," Hughes said.

The Guardian

"This is a desperate attempt to distort the facts," Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Yassir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, said today in reaction to the Israeli Army report.

The New York Times

"It's frustrating because it has been a clear attempt to distort the actual work that we do, and to redirect the focus on to something that they thought would get more traction, the fear of the red menace and the communist plot and reds under your bed and in your schools.

The Guardian

The attacks are "not simply a misunderstanding of our research," says Truthy's lead investigator, computer scientist Filippo Menczer, but rather "a deliberate attempt to distort what we have done".

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "an attempt to distort", ensure clarity about what is being distorted and the intended outcome of the distortion. Provide specific examples or context to strengthen the argument.

Common error

Avoid using "an attempt to distort" without specifying the target of the distortion. Vague statements can weaken your argument. Instead of saying, "It was an attempt to distort", clarify with, "It was an attempt to distort the historical record".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an attempt to distort" functions as a noun phrase that describes an action or effort undertaken with the purpose of misrepresenting or altering something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, providing examples from diverse sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an attempt to distort" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-registered expression used to denote an action intended to misrepresent or alter facts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and appears across various contexts, primarily in News & Media. While not extremely common, it's a readily understood and used phrase to express criticism or disapproval of manipulative actions. When using this phrase, ensure clarity on what's being distorted to avoid vagueness. Alternatives include "a deliberate misrepresentation" or "an endeavor to manipulate", which offer similar meanings with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a deliberate misrepresentation

Emphasizes intentional misleading, differing from a general "attempt".

an endeavor to manipulate

Focuses on skillful control, shifting away from simple distortion.

a scheme to pervert

Suggests corruption or deviation from what is considered right or good.

a move to skew

Highlights bias or lack of objectivity when altering something.

an action to falsify

Indicates fraudulent alteration to create a falsehood.

a ploy to garble

Focuses on making something unintelligible or confusing.

a strategy to twist

Highlights bending or wrenching something out of its true shape or meaning.

an effort to slant

Emphasizes a subjective viewpoint, altering something to favor one perspective.

a project to color

Focuses on giving a misleading character to something.

a game to fake

Suggests trying to pretend or deceive.

FAQs

How can I use "an attempt to distort" in a sentence?

Use "an attempt to distort" to describe actions aimed at misrepresenting or altering facts. For example, "The politician's speech was seen as "an attempt to distort" the truth about the economic situation".

What are some alternatives to "an attempt to distort"?

Alternatives include "a deliberate misrepresentation", "an endeavor to manipulate", or "a scheme to pervert", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "an attempt to distort" or "an effort to distort"?

Both "an attempt to distort" and "an effort to distort" are grammatically correct and largely interchangeable. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific context. They both indicate an action taken with the intention of misrepresenting something.

What is the difference between "an attempt to distort" and "an attempt to mislead"?

"An attempt to mislead" focuses on deceiving someone, while ""an attempt to distort"" emphasizes altering or misrepresenting information, even if the intention isn't explicitly to deceive. Distorting can be a method of misleading, but not always.