attempting to discover

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attempting to discover" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the process of trying to find out or learn something. Example: "The researchers are attempting to discover new methods for renewable energy production."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

I wasn't alone in people attempting to discover this breeze".

The New York Times

I was attempting to discover if the story was true.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Vosshall is attempting to discover why some people seem more attractive to mosquitoes than others.

The New Yorker

Cyber civil wars have broken out, with rivals attacking each others' computers and attempting to discover and reveal their real-world identities.

The Economist

And they are attempting to discover whether MI5 and the police could have prevented the attacks, given their previous knowledge of some of the men involved.

Independent

Law enforcement officials are attempting to discover what led a couple to shoot and kill 14 people at a social services centre in San Bernardino.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

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

The New York Times - Magazine

This paper attempts to discover the invariant features in a whole-body dynamic task under perturbations.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

A sensor network first attempts to discover a route through its native channel.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Certain research has attempted to discover critical factors that affect the performance of wayfinding.

Visualization in Engineering

Connectome genetics attempts to discover how genetic factors affect brain connectivity.

NeuroImage

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "attempting to discover" when you want to emphasize a deliberate and focused effort to find something out, especially when the outcome is uncertain. It is often appropriate in formal or academic writing.

Common error

While "attempting to discover" is correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "trying to find out" or "looking for" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attempting to discover" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as part of a verb phrase to describe an ongoing effort. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically sound for expressing purposeful investigation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "attempting to discover" is a grammatically sound gerund phrase used to describe the active effort of finding something new. As noted by Ludwig, it is suitable for expressing purposeful investigation across various contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Science. While versatile, it leans towards a more formal register, making alternatives like "trying to find out" more appropriate for informal settings. Use "attempting to discover" when emphasizing a deliberate, focused, and potentially uncertain search for knowledge or understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trying to discover

Uses "trying" instead of "attempting", making the phrase slightly less formal.

endeavouring to discover

Replaces "attempting" with a more formal synonym, "endeavouring".

seeking to discover

Substitutes "attempting" with "seeking", emphasizing the active search.

searching to discover

Emphasizes the act of searching as part of the discovery process.

aiming to discover

Replaces "attempting" with "aiming", suggesting a goal-oriented approach.

investigating to discover

Replaces "attempting" with "investigating", focusing on a systematic inquiry.

striving to discover

Suggests a more vigorous effort than "attempting".

exploring to discover

Focuses on the exploratory nature of the discovery process.

working to discover

Highlights the effort and labor involved in the discovery process.

probing to discover

Implies a deeper and more thorough investigation.

FAQs

How can I use "attempting to discover" in a sentence?

You can use "attempting to discover" to describe a focused effort to find something, like "Scientists are attempting to discover a cure for the disease".

What are some alternatives to "attempting to discover"?

Some alternatives include "trying to discover", "seeking to discover", or "investigating to discover", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "attempting to discover" more formal than "trying to find out"?

Yes, "attempting to discover" is generally more formal and suitable for academic or professional writing, while "trying to find out" is more appropriate for informal contexts.

What is the difference between "attempting to discover" and "attempting to uncover"?

"Attempting to discover" implies finding something new or unknown, while "attempting to uncover" suggests revealing something that is already hidden or obscured.