an attempt to invalidate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an attempt to invalidate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing efforts to disprove, undermine, or negate a claim, argument, or belief. Example: "The researcher made an attempt to invalidate the previous findings by conducting a new experiment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

But the Mayor will still sue the Council in an attempt to invalidate the bill, he said, because some other provisions allow the Council to "micromanage" homeless policy.

The New York Times

But that large net scared the shoe company New Balance, which sued Converse in December 2014 in an attempt to invalidate some of the trademark features on the All Stars.

The New York Times

With primary care physicians, on the other hand, patients might interpret a personal disclosure like, "Don't worry about the pain in your knee; I get that all the time, too," not as reassuring but as dismissive or as an attempt to invalidate concerns.

The New York Times - Health

It was an attempt to invalidate the study with negative responses and crash the Copyright Office's servers.

HuffPost

Lin recently joined attorneys from 14 other states in federal court in an attempt to invalidate the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Clean Power Plan rule.

Huffington Post

In 2014, Nebraska, along with Oklahoma, filed a federal lawsuit against Colorado in an attempt to invalidate its nascent laws allowing the sale of recreational marijuana, which the states claimed was increasing trafficking of the drug into their states.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

And they warned against any attempt to invalidate the vote count in order to make Mr. Shafik the president.

The New York Times

A judicial attempt to invalidate the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was given a major boost on Friday, December 14th, when a federal judge in Texas ruled that the ACA, otherwise known as Obamacare, is unconstitutional.

Forbes

It took less than five minutes to walk from the county courthouse, where two judges threw out a Democratic attempt to invalidate Republican absentee ballots, to the state Capitol, where Republicans convened to name their own electoral college slate to guard against a victory by Mr. Gore in the court, to the Supreme Court.

The New York Times

Mr. Trump has helped make Mr. Mueller a household name, attacking his investigation an average of about twice a day as an unfair, politically motivated attempt to invalidate his election.

The New York Times

(AP) — Wisconsin Republicans, just weeks away from losing control of both the governor and attorney general's offices, planned dramatic lame-duck votes Tuesday on a sweeping attempt to limit the powers of incoming Democrats, a move that opponents decried as a last-gasp power grab and attempt to invalidate the election.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "an attempt to invalidate", ensure that the context clearly defines what is being challenged and the basis for the challenge. Specificity enhances clarity and strengthens the argument.

Common error

Avoid presenting the "attempt to invalidate" as a guaranteed outcome. Use cautious language to reflect the uncertainty inherent in such endeavors. Words like 'challenge', 'question', or 'contest' can soften the assertion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an attempt to invalidate" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes an action or effort aimed at negating or disproving something. As shown in Ludwig, it commonly relates to legal or political contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an attempt to invalidate" is a noun phrase used to describe an effort to challenge, negate, or disprove something. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and commonly used in contexts such as news, science, and academia. While alternatives like "an effort to nullify" or "a bid to disprove" exist, the specific choice depends on the desired nuance. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about what is being challenged and avoid overstating the certainty of success. The register is neutral to formal, making it suitable for various audiences. Though "an attempt to invalidate" is not very frequent, its use is relevant and understandable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an effort to nullify

Replaces "attempt" with "effort" and "invalidate" with "nullify", maintaining the core meaning.

an endeavor to negate

Substitutes "attempt" with "endeavor" and "invalidate" with "negate", suggesting a more formal or determined effort.

a move to negate

Replaces "attempt" with "move" for a more concise expression, keeping "negate".

a bid to disprove

Uses "bid" instead of "attempt" and "disprove" instead of "invalidate", focusing on proving something false.

an action to refute

Employs "action" to replace "attempt" and "refute" for "invalidate", suggesting a direct challenge.

an initiative to overturn

Replaces "attempt" with "initiative" and "invalidate" with "overturn", implying an effort to reverse a decision or outcome.

a campaign to discredit

Substitutes "attempt" with "campaign" and "invalidate" with "discredit", focusing on damaging the reputation of something.

a strategy to undermine

Uses "strategy" in place of "attempt" and "undermine" instead of "invalidate", indicating a gradual weakening.

an undertaking to debunk

Replaces "attempt" with "undertaking" and "invalidate" with "debunk", suggesting an effort to expose something as false.

a challenge to the validity of

Restructures the phrase to emphasize the challenge to something's validity.

FAQs

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

You can use "an attempt to invalidate" to describe efforts to challenge or disprove something. For example, "The lawsuit represents "an attempt to invalidate" the contract."

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

Alternatives include "an effort to nullify", "a move to negate", or "a bid to disprove", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "attempting to invalidate" or "an attempt to invalidate"?

The choice depends on the sentence structure. "Attempting to invalidate" is a verb phrase, while "an attempt to invalidate" is a noun phrase. Use the structure that fits the grammatical flow of your sentence.

What is the difference between "an attempt to invalidate" and "an attempt to undermine"?

"An attempt to invalidate" suggests a direct challenge with the goal of negating something entirely. "An attempt to undermine", on the other hand, suggests a gradual weakening or destabilization.