attempting to return

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attempting to return" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an effort or action to go back to a previous state, location, or condition. Example: "After several failed attempts, she is still attempting to return to her hometown."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He may have died while attempting to return to Gaul.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The VimpelCom proceedings also demonstrate some of the thorny issues with attempting to return seized assets.

Columbia University

When attempting to return the ball, the player cannot strike it more than once.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Was he attempting to return to his own boyhood through theirs?

The Guardian - Books

"Attempting to return inflation to target too rapidly would result in even slower growth and higher unemployment," he said.

The New York Times

The four were attempting to return to Turkey from a conflict zone in Syria under Isis control, it said.

The Guardian

"It's terrible," said Laura Ombre, who was attempting to return to her native Netherlands with husband Rob.

The Guardian

The progress in reaching comet Borrelly is described as are the plans for attempting to return science data from this high-risk conclusion to the extended mission.

Acta Astronautica

He has done it by always attempting to return to zero, to make films as though none had ever been made before.

The New Yorker

The nation was captivated by a Cornell team that went further than expected and riveted by a core of Kentucky freshmen attempting to return a program to prominence.

The New York Times - Sports

"The police, security services and Border Force are actively working to identify, detect and disrupt terrorist threats, including from British fighters attempting to return to the UK".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "attempting to return" when you want to emphasize the effort or process involved in going back to a previous state, location, or activity. It suggests the action is not yet complete and may face challenges.

Common error

Avoid using "attempting to return" when a simpler phrase like "trying to return" or "going back" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attempting to return" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun or part of a verb phrase. It describes the action of trying to go back to a previous state or location. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "attempting to return" is a versatile gerund phrase used to describe the ongoing effort to revert to a previous state, location, or condition. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and sees frequent use across diverse contexts, particularly in "News & Media", "Science", and "Academia". While synonyms like "trying to return" exist, "attempting to return" often emphasizes a more deliberate or challenging endeavor. When using this phrase, ensure that it fits the context and avoids unnecessary formality in simple situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trying to return

This alternative is a more common and straightforward synonym.

aiming to return

This alternative indicates a clear goal or objective to go back.

intending to return

This alternative emphasizes a planned or purposed action.

seeking to return

This alternative highlights the act of looking or aiming to go back.

striving to return

This alternative suggests a more significant effort or struggle.

endeavoring to return

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes a serious attempt.

managing to return

This implies a successful effort to go back, often against some difficulty.

working to return

This emphasizes ongoing effort and active steps being taken.

scrambling to return

This suggests a hurried and somewhat disorganized effort to go back.

plotting to return

This implies a secretive or strategic planning to go back.

FAQs

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

You can use "attempting to return" to describe someone or something making an effort to go back to a previous state or location. For example, "The injured athlete is attempting to return to the team after surgery."

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

You can use alternatives like "trying to return", "seeking to return", or "aiming to return" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "attempting to return" or "attempting returning"?

"Attempting to return" is the correct form. The verb "attempt" is typically followed by the infinitive form "to return", not the gerund "returning".

What's the difference between "attempting to return" and "intending to return"?

"Attempting to return" describes the process of making an effort to go back, whereas "intending to return" simply states the plan or intention to do so. "Attempting" implies action, while "intending" implies a decision.