attempt to discover

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attempt to discover" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the effort made to find out or learn something. Example: "The researchers made an attempt to discover the underlying causes of the disease."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hackers attempt to discover systems and gather information.

Juniper® Networks Secure Access SSL VPN Configuration Guide

Photographs were studied in an attempt to discover physiological characteristics of the criminal's body.

The New York Times - Books

The result was more art, and a genuine attempt to discover some common ground.

The Guardian - Opinion

Leviathan, then, is an attempt to discover the reasons for this briny haunting.

The Guardian - Books

Simply and honestly put, being Sarah was something I underwent in yet another attempt to discover myself.

Independent

Some researchers at Dr. Bhushan's lab are studying the slitting process in an attempt to discover possible improvements.

The New York Times - Tech

It has always struck me that that question was somehow an attempt to discover my political leanings.

The New York Times

One section included the phrase "I agree not to attempt to discover the identity of the recipient".

The New York Times - Magazine

The president says he is talking to a range of experts in an attempt to discover "whose ass to kick".

The Guardian - Business

"The Queen of Spades" concerns a young man's desperate attempt to discover a winning combination of playing cards.

The New York Times - Arts

Analysis conducted included a fractographic survey of the fracture surfaces in an attempt to discover the fatigue mechanism responsible for the results.

International Journal of Fatigue

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add impact, try to make a reference to who performed the attempt to discover. E.g. "The team made an attempt to discover..."

Common error

In casual contexts, "attempt to discover" can sound overly formal. Opt for simpler alternatives like "try to find" or "look for" to maintain a natural tone. E.g. Instead of saying "I attempt to discover its price", say "I'm trying to find its price."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attempt to discover" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. It typically follows a verb, clarifying the reason behind an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is correct English usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "attempt to discover" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase to express the intention of uncovering new information. It is suitable for formal writing and research contexts, as highlighted by Ludwig AI's analysis. While it can be replaced with more informal alternatives like "try to find" in casual conversation, "attempt to discover" clearly conveys a deliberate and planned effort, especially in scientific, news, and academic domains. Remember to be mindful of your audience and the context when choosing between "attempt to discover" and its many synonyms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endeavor to uncover

This option replaces "attempt" with "endeavor", suggesting a more determined or sustained effort, and "discover" with "uncover", which implies revealing something previously hidden.

seek to ascertain

Replaces "attempt" with "seek", implying a focused effort, and "discover" with "ascertain", conveying a desire for certainty or confirmation.

try to reveal

This alternative uses "try" instead of "attempt", indicating a potentially less formal effort, and "reveal" in place of "discover", emphasizing the act of making something known.

aim to identify

This phrase replaces "attempt" with "aim", indicating a clear objective, and "discover" with "identify", suggesting a more precise or specific goal.

undertake to find

This alternative uses "undertake" to indicate a deliberate beginning of a task, with "find" replacing discover.

strive to determine

This option replaces "attempt" with "strive", emphasizing effort and ambition, and "discover" with "determine", which suggests a resolution or conclusion is sought.

make an effort to detect

This alternative adds "make an effort" for emphasis and uses "detect" to replace "discover", focusing on perceiving something not immediately obvious.

work towards unveiling

This phrase uses "work towards" to suggest ongoing effort and replaces "discover" with "unveiling", highlighting the revealing aspect.

explore to understand

Here, "explore" replaces "attempt to discover", conveying a sense of investigation and learning, with "understand" focusing on comprehension.

venture to learn

This alternative replaces "attempt" with "venture", adding a sense of risk or daring, and "discover" with "learn", which focuses on gaining knowledge.

FAQs

What are some formal alternatives to "attempt to discover"?

In formal writing, you can replace "attempt to discover" with phrases like "endeavor to uncover", "seek to ascertain", or "undertake to find".

Is "attempt to discover" suitable for casual conversation?

While grammatically correct, "attempt to discover" may sound too formal in casual conversation. Simpler alternatives such as "try to find" or "look for" are generally more appropriate.

How does "attempt to discover" differ from "try to discover"?

"Attempt to discover" and "try to discover" are quite similar, but "attempt" often suggests a more deliberate and planned effort, while "try" can imply a less structured or experimental approach.

When is it best to use "attempt to discover" in writing?

Use "attempt to discover" when you want to clearly convey an intention to uncover new information or to solve a specific problem, particularly in formal reports, academic papers, or technical documentation. "Investigators attempt to discover essential properties".