as an effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as an effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is being done with the intention of achieving a specific goal or outcome. Example: "The team implemented new strategies as an effort to improve productivity and efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Authorities present the response as an effort to maintain calm.

Independent

Mr. Rosselli denounced the move as an effort at retaliation.

The New York Times

Crawford interpreted it as an effort to prevent him from speaking with me.

The New Yorker

That was clearly seen as an effort to avoid blame for any additional austerity measures.

The New York Times

She would never have characterized it as an effort, until — and unless — she grew older herself.

The New Yorker

They include vickitruitt.org, which Ms. Truitt has denounced as an effort to confuse voters.

The New York Times

Potash described BHP's offer as an effort to exploit a downturn in the fertilizer market.

The New York Times

We can see the congressional shutdown, in part, as an effort to move the numbers.

The New Yorker

Still, Dr. Goldman praised the study as an effort to begin to tackle the problem.

The New York Times

"People don't want to frame Reboot as an effort to market Judaism to Jews.

The New York Times

Mr. Waxman's own discoveries began, strangely enough, as an effort to improve his health.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "as an effort" with a verb that directly relates to the goal you're describing. For example, "as an effort to improve...", "as an effort to reduce...".

Common error

While "as an effort" is generally acceptable, in very informal writing, consider simpler alternatives like "to" or "in order to" to maintain a more natural tone. Overusing it can make your writing sound stilted or overly formal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as an effort" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun, indicating the purpose or intention behind an action or state. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct. The examples provided by Ludwig show its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as an effort" is a grammatically sound and widely used prepositional phrase for expressing the intention behind an action. According to Ludwig, this phrase is indeed correct and usable. It is commonly found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. While versatile, it's essential to consider simpler alternatives in very informal settings to maintain a natural tone. Remember to use it to clearly state the purpose behind an action or decision, enhancing clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in an attempt to

Focuses on the action of trying to achieve something, similar to "as an effort" but emphasizes the attempt itself.

with the aim of

Highlights the goal or objective, making the purpose more explicit than "as an effort".

as a means of

Emphasizes the method or tool being used to achieve a goal, differing slightly from the broader sense of "as an effort".

for the purpose of

Directly states the reason or intention behind an action, offering a more formal tone than "as an effort".

in order to

Indicates the reason for doing something, providing a more concise alternative to "as an effort".

with a view to

Highlights the anticipation of a particular outcome, adding a nuance of foresight not always present in "as an effort".

by way of

Suggests using something as a route or method, differing from the general intention implied by "as an effort".

seeking to

Emphasizes the act of trying to find or obtain something, focusing on the search rather than the overall effort.

striving to

Highlights the dedication and hard work involved, adding a sense of perseverance not explicit in "as an effort".

to the end that

A more formal and emphatic way of stating the desired result, stronger than the implicit intention in "as an effort".

FAQs

How can I use "as an effort" in a sentence?

You can use "as an effort" to describe the purpose of an action. For example, "The company launched the initiative "as an effort" to reduce its carbon footprint.".

What are some alternatives to "as an effort"?

You can use alternatives like "in an attempt to", "with the aim of", or "as a means of" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to use "as an effort," or are there simpler options?

In some cases, simpler options like "to" or "in order to" may suffice, especially in informal contexts. The choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

What's the difference between "as an effort" and "in an effort"?

"As an effort" describes something being an effort, while "in an effort" describes doing something with effort. The subtle difference involves whether you are describing something as having certain characteristics (as an effort) or are doing something intentionally using a determined amount of effort.