attempting to escape

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attempting to escape" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an action where someone is trying to get away from a situation or place. Example: "The prisoner was attempting to escape from the high-security facility during the night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is a record about escapism made by escapists, attempting to escape an unforgiving urban environment.

Vice

While attempting to escape, Maxentius drowned.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Almost 200 people were shot attempting to escape.

The New York Times - Arts

Hairies are being gunned down attempting to escape.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Africans attempting to escape from English slave traders, 18th century.

Britannica

attempting to escape on a large scale on 13 June 1944.

Yale University

Appellee's 18-year-old son was shot and killed by police while attempting to escape arrest.

Cornell University

Those attempting to escape the airports and travel by train fared no better in the Northeast.

The New York Times

Here she is trapped first in an attic then, after attempting to escape, kept underground.

Independent

That same night, she was shot dead, allegedly while attempting to escape.

The Guardian

You are being complicit in the same institutionalised racism you are attempting to escape.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's effort to escape, consider using vivid verbs to enhance the imagery and impact of your writing. For example, instead of "attempting to escape", you could say "desperately fleeing" or "frantically scrambling".

Common error

Avoid using "attempting to escape" when the escape was successful. "Attempting" implies the action may not have been completed. Use phrases like "successfully escaped" or "managed to flee" to indicate a completed escape.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attempting to escape" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as a noun or part of a verb phrase. It describes the act of trying to get away from a dangerous or undesirable situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

17%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Science

6%

HuffPost

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "attempting to escape" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, predominantly found in News & Media and Academic contexts. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase effectively conveys the ongoing action of trying to get away from a dangerous or undesirable situation. While synonyms like "trying to flee" and "seeking to break free" exist, "attempting to escape" maintains a neutral register suitable for a variety of writing styles. Remember to use vivid language to amplify the impact and only use this if the attempt was unsuccessful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trying to get away

Focuses on the general action of moving away from something.

seeking to break free

Emphasizes the desire for liberation from confinement or restriction.

trying to flee

Highlights the act of running away from danger or pursuit.

endeavoring to abscond

A more formal way of expressing the attempt to secretly escape.

aiming to evade

Focuses on the intention to avoid capture or detection.

plotting to break out

Suggests a carefully planned effort to escape.

making an effort to flee

Highlights the exertion involved in the attempt to escape.

in the process of fleeing

Focuses on the ongoing nature of the escape attempt.

looking to slip away

Implies a subtle and discreet attempt to escape.

working to escape

Highlights the effort and labor involved in escaping.

FAQs

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

You can use "attempting to escape" to describe someone in the process of trying to get away from a place or situation. For example, "The prisoner was "attempting to escape" from the prison yard".

What can I say instead of "attempting to escape"?

You can use alternatives like "trying to flee", "seeking to break free", or "trying to get away" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "attempting to escape from"?

While not strictly redundant, it's often more concise to simply say "attempting to escape". The "from" is usually implied by the act of escaping itself.

What's the difference between "attempting to escape" and "planning to escape"?

"Attempting to escape" implies the action is already underway, while "planning to escape" suggests that the escape is still in the planning stages and hasn't been initiated yet.