at the third attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at the third attempt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was achieved after three tries or efforts. Example: "She finally succeeded at the third attempt after facing several challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They succeeded at the third attempt.

The Guardian - Sport

At the third attempt Bleasdale knocked off the bar on the way down.

Independent

IN THE end Álvaro Colom may have won the presidency at the third attempt because of who he was not.

The Economist

At the third attempt the trial was stopped after allegations of jury tampering were heard by the judge.

Independent

In the Women's Pole Vault Yelena Isinbaeva took gold with a record leap of 5.05 metres at the third attempt.

The Guardian - Sport

He edged Williamson low to Southee at gully, who held on to a seriously sharp chance at the third attempt.

The Guardian - Sport

Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest (Championship, Saturday) Can Gordon Strachan win his first game as Middlesbrough's manager at the third attempt?

The Guardian - Sport

In his last years, at the third attempt, Cobbett finally succeeded in becoming an MP, for Oldham.

The Guardian - Books

In winning the sought-after absolute majority at the third attempt, Mr Harper was rewarded for bringing Canada relatively unscathed through the 2008 financial crash and subsequent recession.

Independent

If he escapes the confines of international football's tactical straitjacket, he too could carve his name into World Cup folklore at the third attempt.

Independent

I am clearly not a legal genius.' He passed at the third attempt and became a lowly lawyer in the District Attorney's office in Manhattan.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "at the third attempt" to clearly indicate that something was achieved after two previous unsuccessful tries. This provides a specific and concise way to convey the persistence required to achieve a goal.

Common error

Avoid using "at the third attempt" when the number of attempts is unknown or not relevant. Ensure the context clearly establishes that there were indeed three attempts made. Using it loosely can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at the third attempt" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the point at which an action was successfully completed after two previous unsuccessful tries. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sport

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at the third attempt" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate success after two prior failures. It is most frequently found in news and sports reporting, where the context often involves recounting efforts to achieve a specific goal. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage and provides numerous real-world examples from reputable sources. While versatile, it's crucial to ensure the context supports the presence of three distinct attempts to avoid misuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the third try

Replaces "attempt" with the simpler word "try", maintaining the same meaning with a more informal tone.

after three tries

Similar to "on the third try" but emphasizes the sequence of unsuccessful tries leading up to the success.

at the third go

Uses the informal term "go" instead of "attempt", making the phrase more casual.

with the third endeavor

Uses more formal synonyms for "attempt", increasing the formality of the phrase.

on the third occasion

Uses "occasion" as a more formal alternative to "attempt" or "try".

following two failures

Highlights the previous failures before the eventual success on the third try.

in the third instance

Replaces "attempt" with "instance", providing a slightly different perspective on the sequence of events.

after a couple of failures

Generalizes the failures, not specifically mentioning the third attempt but implying it followed two unsuccessful tries.

finally succeeding

Focuses on the eventual success, omitting the explicit mention of the number of attempts made.

at long last

Implies a sense of relief or eventual success without explicitly mentioning the number of attempts.

FAQs

How can I use "at the third attempt" in a sentence?

You can use "at the third attempt" to indicate that someone succeeded after two previous failures. For example, "He finally passed the exam "at the third attempt".".

What are some alternatives to saying "at the third attempt"?

You can use alternatives like "on the third try", "after three attempts", or "with the third endeavor" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "in the third attempt" instead of "at the third attempt"?

While "in the third attempt" might be understood, ""at the third attempt"" is the more common and grammatically preferred phrasing.

What's the difference between "at the first attempt" and "at the third attempt"?

"At the first attempt" indicates immediate success, while ""at the third attempt"" implies that two previous attempts were unsuccessful before finally achieving the desired outcome.