assistance to try

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "assistance to try" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a request for help in attempting something, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "I need assistance to try and solve this problem, but I'm not sure where to start."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It comes hours after the authorities appealed for international assistance to try to contain the blaze.

BBC

"We have removed tobacco but also provided prisoners with some assistance to try and give up their nicotine habit through the form of patches and the use of Quitline".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Waffle House employees reportedly called in another regular patron, who owns a local roadside assistance company, to try to free Rogers, but Rogers was already dead.

Huffington Post

He also said " what we have promised them is that we would work with them, to cooperate with them, to provide whatever assistance we can to try to help them in that effort".

The New York Times

Van Rensburg described how, on arriving at Pistorius's house, he saw Steenkamp's body covered in towels and plastic bags that the daughter of the estate administrator said she had used, with assistance from Pistorius, to try to stop the bleeding.

The Guardian

IAVA is also running a pilot program providing one-on-one assistance to veterans trying to navigate the bureaucracy of the Veterans Affairs Department, the job market and government social services.

The New York Times

The government already provides diplomatic and legal assistance to parents trying to get their children back, but success can be elusive because it depends to a large degree on the willingness of foreign governments to cooperate, the report said.

The New York Times

Once your dog will sit regularly with your assistance, it is time to try without your help.

WikiHow

Much to his regret, Mr. Devore had to tell the lady that he could be of no assistance, that she would have to try to locate her uncle through the consular service.

The New Yorker

It has provided about $600m in economic assistance for poverty alleviation, promised to try to write off $1 billion in bilateral debt, allowed the Pakistani army to buy military parts and spares for its ageing American weapons systems and restored military-to-military contacts.

The Economist

The tendency in industrialized countries has been to try to transform assistance into a right with published scales and regulations and opportunities for appeal.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "assistance to try" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer and more grammatically correct alternatives such as "help in attempting" or "support to attempt".

Common error

A common mistake is to use "assistance to try" when a gerund or infinitive is more appropriate. For example, instead of "assistance to try solve the problem", use "assistance in solving the problem" or "assistance to solve the problem", depending on the intended meaning and grammatical context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assistance to try" functions as a connector expressing purpose, although it is grammatically flawed. As Ludwig AI explains, it's intended to convey the idea of providing help in attempting something, but it is awkwardly phrased.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Wiki

24%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "assistance to try" appears in various contexts, particularly News & Media and Wiki articles, it is considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI recommends using clearer alternatives like "help in attempting" or "support to attempt". Due to its low frequency and grammatical issues, it's best to avoid this phrase in formal writing. The examples found on Ludwig highlight the need for more precise and grammatically sound phrasing when expressing the provision of aid or support.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

help in attempting

Focuses on the act of attempting and needing help within that action.

aid in trying

Similar to "help in attempting", but uses "aid", suggesting more formal assistance.

support to attempt

"Support" suggests a broader form of assistance, including emotional or logistical.

guidance for attempting

Emphasizes the need for direction or advice in the process.

resources for trying

Focuses on providing the necessary materials or tools.

assistance for attempting

Replaces "to" with "for", making it slightly more grammatically sound, though still awkward.

help to facilitate

Focuses on making the process easier or more likely to succeed.

support to facilitate

Suggests providing resources and assistance to make the process easier.

facilitation to attempt

Focuses on easing the path to attempting a certain task.

measures to support

More specific and indicates concrete actions taken to aid an attempt.

FAQs

What's a clearer alternative to "assistance to try"?

You can use alternatives like "help in attempting", "aid in trying", or "support to attempt" depending on the context.

Is "assistance to try" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "assistance to try" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "assistance in trying" or "help to try".

How can I use the word "assistance" correctly in a sentence?

Use "assistance" with a gerund (e.g., "assistance in solving") or rephrase to use "help" with an infinitive (e.g., "help to solve").

What's the difference between "assistance in trying" and "help to try"?

"Assistance in trying" is slightly more formal, while "help to try" is more common in everyday language. Both are grammatically sound alternatives to "assistance to try".