attempt to remember

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attempt to remember" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the effort to recall something from memory. Example: "During the exam, I had to make an attempt to remember all the formulas we had learned throughout the semester."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"The second game was Chelsea against Wibby" - Fabio Capello makes a valiant attempt to remember West Brom's name.

The Guardian - Sport

What begins as an ordered and contemplative attempt to remember someone descends into a desperation and panic to hold onto a true memory.

The Guardian

Still, it seems churlish to refuse to sing, and as my mind fizzes and pops in a desperate attempt to remember some lyrics, I find myself distracted by the elderly woman who has just taken the stage.

The Guardian - Music

Through his Freedmen and Southern Society Project, which Dr. Berlin once described as "just an attempt to remember what Sara had forgotten," he led an effort to publish the highlights of the Archives' materials from the emancipation era.

The Washington Post

In a memorable phrase, the critic and program annotator Michael Steinberg wrote that as a young man, when he first heard the finale of the Mahler Seventh, it sounded like "someone's grotesque and futile attempt to remember how the 'Meistersinger' Overture goes".

The New York Times - Arts

Indeed, with a keen understanding of the important things in a toddler's life - the power of the pacifier, the appeal of goo - the show's creators, Arlene Klasky, Gabor Cuspo and Paul Germain, have wrapped their characters' sticky fingers around subjects that run the gamut from chicken pox to Chucky's heartfelt attempt to remember his dead mother.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

His journey is recorded and played back to us as he attempts to remember everything he saw.

The Guardian

"The key is that there were six memories being built for each cue word—six memories that might fight it out during attempts to remember," Wagner said.

Stanford University

Gradually, my self-consciousness receded, along with panicky attempts to remember whether it's teeth-together-lips-apart or the reverse.

The New Yorker

Meanwhile, a separate part of my brain was attempting to remember another piece of writing in which the author tried to recall the name of a movie star.

The New Yorker

Last year, Tiananmen Square was patrolled once again by plainclothes policemen, ready to quash any attempts to remember the victims of the massacre.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "try to recall" or "make an effort to remember" for variety and to avoid repetition in your writing.

Common error

Avoid repeatedly using "attempt to remember" in close proximity. This can make your writing sound monotonous. Instead, vary your sentence structure and use synonyms such as "try to recall" or "make an effort to remember" to improve readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attempt to remember" functions as an infinitive phrase, typically used as a verb complement or to express purpose. According to Ludwig AI, this is a perfectly acceptable phrase to use. It indicates an action being undertaken.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "attempt to remember" is a grammatically sound and commonly used infinitive phrase that indicates an effort to recall something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While it fits well within various contexts, it appears most frequently in "News & Media", "Wiki", and "Science" publications. For writers, it's beneficial to diversify vocabulary by using synonyms like "try to recall" or "make an effort to remember" to keep writing engaging. Be sure to provide adequate context so the reader understands the specific content being recalled.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

try to recollect

Focuses on the act of bringing back to mind, implying a more deliberate effort.

make an effort to recall

Emphasizes the effort involved in the act of remembering.

endeavor to memorize

Suggests a more formal and systematic approach to remembering.

strive to recollect

Highlights the struggle and effort involved in bringing something back to mind.

seek to remember

Implies a focused search for a memory.

undertake to recall

Suggests a more formal and deliberate effort to remember.

aim to remember

Highlights the intention to retain information in memory.

venture to recollect

Implies a willingness to take a risk in trying to remember something.

struggle to recall

Emphasizes the difficulty involved in remembering something.

make an attempt to memorize

Directly substitutes "recall" with "memorize", focusing on the process of committing something to memory.

FAQs

What is the difference between "attempt to remember" and "try to remember"?

While both phrases are similar, "attempt to remember" is slightly more formal and emphasizes the effort made. "Try to remember" is more common in everyday conversation.

What are some alternatives to "attempt to remember"?

You can use alternatives like "try to recall", "make an effort to remember", or "endeavor to recollect" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

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

You can use "attempt to remember" to describe the action of trying to recall something. For example: "She would attempt to remember the lyrics to her favorite song."

Is "attempt to remember" grammatically correct?

Yes, "attempt to remember" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard structure of a verb ("attempt") followed by an infinitive phrase ("to remember").