attempt to maintain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attempt to maintain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing efforts to keep something in a certain state or condition, often in contexts related to stability or continuity. Example: "The team will make an attempt to maintain the project's timeline despite the challenges we are facing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The choreography suggested that the dance depicted an attempt to maintain or restore a community.

The New York Times - Arts

procedure, and that his deceit was a well-intentioned attempt to maintain confidentiality.

The New Yorker

Compere Jim Devereaux will valiantly attempt to maintain, if not decorum, a semblance of order.

The Guardian - Music

Part of their exhaustion came from an attempt to maintain a pre-war manner of living.

The New Yorker

This theory proposed that people attempt to maintain consistency among their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"These cabinets were an attempt to maintain familial or individual privacy," Dr. Cohen said.

The New York Times

Now let's turn to an attempt to maintain the broader understanding of hacktivism.

The New York Times

The Sadrists have promised to fight any attempt to maintain an American military presence in Iraq.

The New York Times

It is an attempt to maintain the level of propaganda that proved so successful with the Ukraine crisis".

The New York Times

Presumably in an attempt to maintain their metal cred, the band have tried their utmost to airbrush it from history.

The Guardian - Music

But it could trigger copycat devaluations by central banks as they attempt to maintain their own competitiveness against China.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "attempt to maintain", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being maintained and why it is important. This adds clarity and purpose to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "attempt to maintain" in passive constructions that weaken the sentence. Instead of writing "An attempt was made to maintain...", opt for a more direct and active voice like "The team attempted to maintain...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attempt to maintain" functions as a verbal phrase that describes an action undertaken with the intention of preserving or continuing a particular state, condition, or level. This often involves active effort or strategic planning, as seen in examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

46%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "attempt to maintain" is a versatile and commonly used phrase indicating an effort to preserve or continue something. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, ranging from news and media to science and formal business settings. While the phrase is generally neutral, it's important to ensure clarity by specifying what's being maintained and why. Consider alternative phrases like "strive to preserve" or "try to sustain" for nuanced expression. Avoid passive constructions for stronger writing. Overall, this phrase is a reliable tool for expressing intention and effort in maintaining stability or continuity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make an effort to keep

A general expression indicating a conscious attempt to maintain something.

try to sustain

Highlights the act of keeping something going or supporting it over time.

aim to preserve

Implies setting a goal to keep something intact or unchanged.

strive to preserve

Emphasizes the continuous effort to keep something in its current state.

take steps to preserve

Suggests specific actions are being taken to maintain a certain condition.

endeavor to uphold

Focuses on a serious and determined effort to maintain a standard or principle.

seek to retain

Highlights the active pursuit of keeping something in possession or in a certain condition.

work to conserve

Focuses on the effort to protect and prevent something from being lost or damaged.

undertake to conserve

Indicates a commitment to protecting and maintaining something through deliberate actions.

struggle to uphold

Implies a difficult effort to maintain something against opposing forces.

FAQs

How can I use "attempt to maintain" in a sentence?

You can use "attempt to maintain" to describe efforts to keep something in a particular state or condition. For example, "The government will attempt to maintain economic stability".

What are some alternatives to "attempt to maintain"?

You can use alternatives like "strive to preserve", "try to sustain", or "make an effort to keep" depending on the context.

Is "attempt to maintain" formal or informal?

"Attempt to maintain" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "attempt to maintain" and "attempt to preserve"?

While similar, "attempt to maintain" focuses on keeping something in its current state, while "attempt to preserve" emphasizes protecting something from harm or decay.