attempt to respond

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attempt to respond" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating an effort to reply or react to a question, request, or situation. Example: "I will attempt to respond to your concerns as best as I can during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr Sweeney said Railtrack did attempt to respond to concerns.

The Guardian

There was an attempt to respond, she said.

The Guardian

"It looks like a fair attempt to respond to the different interests".

The Guardian

"It was scandalous to attempt to respond to the European court ruling by circumventing parliament.

The Guardian

Archive staff will attempt to respond to all enquiries whether by post, email or telephone.

The Guardian

However, there has been no attempt to respond to urgent pleas for simplification of Isas.

The Guardian - Money

He will also attempt to respond swiftly to the baneful effects of the global slowdown.

The Economist

Several managers at the table began talking over one another in an attempt to respond.

Harvard Business Review

Suddenlink publicized the offer, calling it "an attempt to respond to what our customers have said they wanted".

The New York Times

As this thread started by black Twitter O.G. @metroadlib suggests, Trump's attempt to respond was greeted with almost uniform derision.

The Washington Post

Again, in the attempt to respond to the "corporate will," or at least to oil the squeaky wheel, he reacts.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "attempt to respond" when you want to convey an effort to answer or react, particularly when the outcome is uncertain or the task is challenging. For example, "The company will attempt to respond to all customer inquiries within 24 hours."

Common error

Avoid using "attempt to respond" when a direct and simple response is expected. In many cases, simply stating "I will respond" or "I can answer that" is more appropriate and efficient.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attempt to respond" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. It indicates an intention or effort to provide an answer or reaction. Ludwig provides numerous examples across diverse contexts, demonstrating its functionality in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "attempt to respond" is a versatile phrase used to indicate an effort to answer or react to something, often with an implied sense of difficulty or uncertainty. Ludwig highlights that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts, as seen in its frequent occurrence in news media, scientific publications, and formal business communications. While "attempt to respond" is generally appropriate, writers should be mindful of using more direct alternatives like "respond" or "answer" in situations where the effort or uncertainty isn't a key aspect of the communication. Given the large amount of examples available, using "attempt to respond" correctly and effectively is very easy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

try to answer

Replaces "attempt" with the more common and informal "try", keeping the meaning essentially the same.

aim to answer

Replaces "attempt" with "aim", focusing on the intention to provide an answer.

seek to respond

Substitutes "attempt" with "seek", suggesting a more deliberate and considered effort.

endeavor to respond

Replaces "attempt" with the more formal "endeavor", increasing the level of formality.

make an effort to reply

Rephrases the entire expression to emphasize the effort involved in replying.

strive to respond

Suggests a determined effort to respond, highlighting the difficulty or importance of the response.

take steps to answer

Indicates a more proactive approach to answering, suggesting concrete actions are being taken.

undertake to answer

Implies a formal commitment to answer, often used in professional or official contexts.

give an answer

A more direct way of saying to respond, omitting the nuance of "attempt".

respond to the matter

Focuses on the act of responding to a specific issue, omitting any nuance of difficulty or effort.

FAQs

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

You can use "attempt to respond" when describing an effort to answer or react to something, often implying some difficulty or uncertainty. For example, "The politician will attempt to respond to the allegations during the press conference."

What are some alternatives to "attempt to respond"?

You can use alternatives like "try to answer", "seek to respond", or "make an effort to reply" depending on the context and level of formality.

When is it best to use "attempt to respond" instead of simply "respond"?

Use "attempt to respond" when you want to emphasize the effort involved or when the outcome of the response is uncertain. If you are simply stating that a response will be given, "respond" is sufficient.

Is "attempt to respond" more formal or informal?

"Attempt to respond" falls in the neutral to slightly formal register. More informal alternatives include "try to answer", while more formal options include "endeavor to respond".