attempt again

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attempt again" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when encouraging someone to try something once more after a previous attempt. Example: "If you don't succeed the first time, don't be discouraged; just attempt again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

First, though, he will attempt again to secure the championship that has eluded him.

The New York Times - Sports

I've even deep-fried the sprouts, which was wonderful but much too messy to attempt again on a weeknight.

The New York Times - Food

There is no occasion to attempt again an exposition of the views of this Court as to the proper limitations of the privileges and immunities clause.

Cornell University

Rivers ranks first in adjusted net yards per attempt again in 2010, and has been the best quarterback in the league.

The New York Times

Avalanche risk thwarted the attempt, but the team returned in autumn of 1983 to attempt again the massive central buttress of the face.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I was obliged to stop and ask pardon and then attempt again while in this state and sang with all my being, yet still stumbling.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

If the bike doesn't start after the first attempt try again.

WikiHow

If your attempt fails, try again.

WikiHow

On Saturday, Ogilvy attempted again to make sense of it.

The New York Times - Sports

This venture was not to involve their directing, which they never attempted again after Wallingford.

Columbia University

Some games demand a split-second decision that cannot be attempted again.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "attempt again" when you want to specifically highlight the repeated nature of an effort, particularly when the first attempt has already been explicitly mentioned.

Common error

While "attempt again" is perfectly correct, in very informal contexts consider using phrases like "try again" or "give it another shot" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attempt again" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of trying something once more. This follows the examples of Ludwig where it describes repeated actions in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "attempt again" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe the act of trying something another time. As Ludwig examples demonstrate, it appears in diverse contexts like News & Media, Academia, and Science. Although acceptable, depending on the formality of the situation, consider alternatives like "try again" or "give it another try". Remember that while "attempt" on its own can be more formal, the addition of "again" lends itself to a more neutral register. According to Ludwig, the phrase is generally correct and easily understandable across various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

try once more

Emphasizes a single, additional effort.

try a second time

Highlights the numerical sequence of attempts.

give it another try

More informal, suggesting a renewed effort.

take another shot at it

Idiomatic expression for retrying, often used in a lighthearted way.

re-attempt

More formal and concise, using a prefix to indicate repetition.

try anew

Suggests a fresh start with a slightly more literary tone.

have another go

British English equivalent of 'give it another try'.

resume attempts

Implies a continuation after an interruption.

recommence trying

Formal and emphasizes a restart of the action.

try again later

Indicates postponing the retry to a future time.

FAQs

How can I use "attempt again" in a sentence?

You can use "attempt again" to emphasize a repeated effort, as in, "After the initial failure, they decided to "attempt again" the following day".

What are some alternatives to "attempt again"?

Alternatives include "try again", "give it another try", or "try once more", depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Is "attempt again" more formal than "try again"?

Yes, "attempt again" generally carries a slightly more formal tone than "try again". The best choice depends on the context and audience.

When should I use "re-attempt" instead of "attempt again"?

"Re-attempt" is a more concise and formal way to express the same idea as "attempt again". Use "re-attempt" when brevity and formality are preferred, such as in technical writing.