apply yourself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "apply yourself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to encourage someone to put in effort or focus on a task or goal. Example: "If you want to succeed in your studies, you really need to apply yourself and dedicate more time to your assignments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If you apply yourself, it should pay off.

The Guardian

So you are about to apply yourself to learning the basics of a different tongue.

The Guardian - Travel

A little more talent doesn't mean anything if you don't apply yourself.

The New York Times - Sports

"In our region, if you apply yourself, then you'll get a job appropriate to your skills," said Guttermeyer.

The Guardian - Business

To pass and get into grammar school, you do have to apply yourself – it's quite a difficult test.

The Guardian

You really had to apply yourself mentally and think your way round.' Chris Bonington first climbed with Whillans in 1958.

The Guardian - Sport

"I've thought about it thousands of times, it was about being able to adjust, how to apply yourself," he said.

The New Yorker

Once you've worked out "why law", you will find you can apply yourself to the process of achieving your goal in a more focused, determined and disciplined manner.

The Guardian

"If you continue to apply yourself to the program, and you continue to go to the self-helps, we'll get you through it".

The New York Times

Out of the Promethean fire comes destruction: If you have time to apply yourself to the treasures of Western culture, fine; if not, count your blessings.

The New York Times - Books

"If you want to have swag, you got to apply yourself," he said, minutes before showing them a tattoo of the word "read" on his arm.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When encouraging someone to improve, follow "apply yourself" with specific actions or goals to make the advice more actionable. For instance, "apply yourself by studying for an extra hour each day".

Common error

Avoid using "apply yourself" as a generic encouragement without a clear objective. Ensure the context specifies what the person should be dedicating their efforts towards. Instead of saying, "you need to apply yourself more", specify, "you need to apply yourself to understanding these concepts".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "apply yourself" functions as an imperative, typically used to encourage or urge someone to make a concerted effort towards a specific goal or activity. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is commonly used in written English to convey the need for dedication and focus.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Wiki

23%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science & Research

4%

Sports

4%

Books

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "apply yourself" is a commonly used and grammatically correct imperative phrase that encourages effort and dedication. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and formal communications. The phrase functions to motivate action and improvement, urging individuals to invest focus and energy into achieving their goals. While generally neutral in tone, it’s best used with specific objectives in mind to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "dedicate yourself" or "exert yourself" offer similar meanings with slight nuances in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dedicate yourself

Emphasizes commitment and focus towards a specific purpose.

exert yourself

Highlights the effort and energy required to achieve something.

commit yourself

Stresses the importance of pledging oneself to a task or goal.

focus your efforts

Suggests concentrating one's energy and attention on a particular objective.

put your heart into it

Indicates investing passion and enthusiasm into an endeavor.

throw yourself into it

Implies immersing oneself completely in an activity.

give it your all

Emphasizes maximizing effort and performance.

make an effort

Simply suggests putting in some work.

try hard

A straightforward expression of attempting to succeed.

buckle down

Means to start applying oneself seriously and with determination.

FAQs

How can I use "apply yourself" in a sentence?

You can use "apply yourself" to encourage someone to put in effort or focus on a task or goal. For example, "If you want to succeed in your studies, you really need to "apply yourself" and dedicate more time to your assignments."

What does it mean to "apply yourself"?

To "apply yourself" means to dedicate effort, focus, and energy toward achieving a specific goal or task. It implies a conscious decision to invest time and resources into improving one's performance or skills.

What can I say instead of "apply yourself"?

You can use alternatives like "dedicate yourself", "exert yourself", or "commit yourself" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "apply yourself" or "dedicate yourself"?

Both "apply yourself" and "dedicate yourself" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Apply yourself" emphasizes effort and focus, while "dedicate yourself" implies a stronger sense of commitment and purpose.