attempt in vain

USAGE SUMMARY

'attempt in vain' is a correct phrase in written English.
You can use it to express the idea that someone has tried to accomplish something, but was unsuccessful. For example: "He attempted in vain to complete the challenging task."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Reality series The Fattening Room sees six young women partake in the traditional 30-day pre-marriage rites to learn everything they need to know about being a woman from local matriarchs (who attempt, in vain, to fatten them up).

Independent

That year they were engaged in early summer and married in October - after an attempt in vain by Grace's mother to postpone the vows - she was never enamored with him nor he with her.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Attempting (in vain, it turned out) to stave off decertification, Mr Samper cracked down hard.

The Economist

The UN, though, has been attempting in vain to produce a definition of terrorism.

The Guardian - Opinion

Charles spent the next five years in Bender (now Bendery, Moldova), then under Turkish rule, attempting in vain to persuade the Turks to attack Russia.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Its calligraphic frieze attempts in vain to imitate the style of the Kufic script engraved on the so-called griffin from 10th-century Arab Spain preserved in Pisa.

The New York Times - Arts

These women tried to be soldiers and mothers, attempting in vain to care for their children through finicky Skype connections and e-mail.

The New York Times

Months later, a friend and I attempted in vain to find Spring Street, tucked away nearly a mile from Atlanta's town centre, the Underground Atlanta mall complex.

The Guardian - Music

Is "sick" the new "fierce" (as coined by Victoria Beckham), or will it be the new "fetch" (as one character attempted in vain to coin in Mean Girls)?

The Guardian - Film

In Israel pic.twitter.com/EpnnoBOFOo Hannity, who is famously right-wing and pro-Israel, asked Yousef Munayyer if he was "thick in the head" as he attempted in vain to get him to agree that Hamas were a terrorist organisation.

Independent

Hannity, who is famously right-wing and pro-Israel, asked Yousef Munayyer if he was "thick in the head" as he attempted in vain to get him to agree that Hamas were a terrorist organisation.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Incorporate the phrase "attempt in vain" when you want to highlight a contrast between the effort invested and the lack of results. This is especially useful when the failure is ironic, unexpected, or particularly significant.

Common error

While "attempt in vain" is generally acceptable, overuse in highly formal or academic writing can make your tone sound repetitive. Consider using stronger verbs or more concise phrasing to convey the failed effort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attempt in vain" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the manner in which an action was performed. It signifies that an action was carried out but failed to achieve the desired outcome. Ludwig provides examples of this use.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Wiki

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "attempt in vain" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to describe an unsuccessful effort. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples across diverse sources. While not overly formal, it's appropriate for most writing contexts. Consider synonyms like "try without success" or "make a futile attempt" for variety or emphasis. Remember that while the phrase is correct, focusing on stronger verbs or more concise phrasing can result in an improved impact and message clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

try without success

Replaces "attempt" with "try" and "in vain" with "without success", maintaining a similar level of formality but using different wording.

make a futile attempt

Substitutes "in vain" with "futile", emphasizing the pointlessness of the attempt.

try fruitlessly

Combines the action and result into one word, focusing on the unproductive nature of the effort.

attempt unsuccessfully

Directly states the lack of success, keeping the word "attempt" but simplifying the expression.

endeavor in vain

Replaces "attempt" with the more formal "endeavor", maintaining the meaning.

strive without result

Uses "strive" to suggest greater effort, but still ending without a positive outcome.

struggle unsuccessfully

Highlights the difficulty of the attempt, ending in failure.

fail in an attempt

Reverses the structure to emphasize the failure as the primary outcome.

have no luck trying

Indicates the lack of success is due to chance or circumstance.

beat your head against a brick wall

Idiomatic expression indicating a frustrating and pointless attempt.

FAQs

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

You can use "attempt in vain" to describe an action that someone tried to do but failed. For example, "He "attempted in vain" to fix the broken machine".

What are some alternatives to "attempt in vain"?

Alternatives include "try without success", "make a futile attempt", or "try fruitlessly". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

Is "attempt in vain" formal or informal?

"Attempt in vain" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It's suitable for most writing contexts but might be replaced with more vivid language in informal settings.

What's the difference between "attempt in vain" and "try in vain"?

"Attempt in vain" and "try in vain" are largely interchangeable. "Attempt" is slightly more formal than "try", but the difference is minimal.