attempt to understand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attempt to understand" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you might use it in the following sentence: "I am attempting to understand the complexities of the global economy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Dick writes, "My exegesis, then, is an attempt to understand my own understanding".

The New York Times

Just an attempt to understand.

The Guardian - Sport

We review the available results, and attempt to understand the origin of the discrepancies.

Advances in Space Research

He says that his program makes no attempt to understand words and clues.

The Economist

The best place to start is with an attempt to understand what power is.

The New York Times

But there has been little attempt to understand how speculation actually works.

The Economist

Racism elicits hatred and distrust and precludes any attempt to understand the racialized Other.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Every attempt to understand the court's rulings devolves into a fog of hypothesis and speculation.

The New York Times

Part of the experience of coming here is the attempt to understand and articulate these responses.

The New Yorker

Philosophy of science led educational theorists to attempt to understand paradigmatic shifts in knowledge.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Compatibilization chemistry at the interphase has been proposed as an attempt to understand the mechanism.

Industrial Crops and Products

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "attempt to understand" in your writing, consider the specific nuance you want to convey: are you highlighting effort, purpose, or a formal undertaking?

Common error

Avoid pairing "attempt to understand" with overly abstract nouns that obscure the subject of understanding. Be specific about what is being understood to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attempt to understand" functions as an infinitive phrase, often used as part of a verb phrase to express an intention or effort. Ludwig's examples show its versatility in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

29%

News & Media

42%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "attempt to understand" is a versatile and widely used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis. It functions as an infinitive phrase that communicates an effort or intention to comprehend something. As indicated by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and appears frequently across diverse contexts, including news, scientific research, and academic writing. Its neutrality makes it suitable for formal and informal communication. For greater precision, consider nuances associated with alternatives like "try to comprehend", or "seek to understand".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

try to comprehend

Focuses on grasping the meaning or nature of something, similar to understanding.

seek to understand

Emphasizes the active pursuit of understanding, adding a sense of purpose.

strive to comprehend

Highlights the effort involved in achieving understanding, suggesting a challenge.

make an effort to understand

Explicitly states the exertion of effort towards understanding.

undertake to understand

Suggests a formal or deliberate commitment to achieving understanding.

endeavor to comprehend

Similar to 'strive', but with a more formal tone.

aim to grasp

Focuses on capturing or seizing understanding, often used for complex topics.

venture to interpret

Implies a careful and sometimes risky attempt to explain or understand.

explore to comprehend

Focuses on the process of investigation to gain understanding.

delve into understanding

Highlights a deep and thorough investigation to achieve understanding.

FAQs

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

You can use "attempt to understand" to describe an effort to gain knowledge or insight, for example: "The scientist made an attempt to understand the new data."

What are some alternatives to "attempt to understand"?

Alternatives include "try to comprehend", "seek to understand", or "strive to comprehend", each conveying a slightly different nuance of effort and purpose.

Is it better to use "attempt to understand" or "try to understand"?

"Attempt to understand" and "try to understand" are often interchangeable, but "attempt" can suggest a more formal or deliberate effort.

What's the difference between "attempt to understand" and "succeed in understanding"?

"Attempt to understand" describes the action of trying to comprehend, whereas "succeed in understanding" indicates the successful achievement of comprehension.