attempts unsuccessfully

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attempts unsuccessfully" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe efforts made to achieve something that ultimately did not succeed. Example: "Despite his numerous attempts unsuccessfully to fix the car, it remained broken."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

We get the incomparable former city councilwoman Monica Conyers — "the perfect political caricature wrapped up in a real human being" — who, if I read it right, attempts unsuccessfully to seduce LeDuff.

The New York Times - Books

The film is 100percentt made from actual footage shot by the Pranksters at the time, and securely positions the viewer in a marvelously intriguing place: that of an innocent America, seconds before it sees the dire threat posed by the counterculture and attempts, unsuccessfully, to stop it.

Huffington Post

The failure of haemoglobin levels to recover in C57BL/6 and the subsequent chronic anaemia observed [20] may be reflected in the inflated expression of erythropoietic genes at later stages of infection as the organism attempts, unsuccessfully, to restore sufficient RBC capacity.

Plosone

If you use up all your attempts unsuccessfully, you will be locked out of the terminal until you get the passcode (which may be impossible in some cases).

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Both attempted – unsuccessfully - to impugn its accuracy.

The Guardian - Opinion

He attempted, unsuccessfully, to drive home.

The Guardian

He attempted, unsuccessfully, to keep her out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The New Yorker

In winter 57 56 Cicero attempted unsuccessfully to estrange Pompey from Caesar.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Wanda visits her husband, attempting unsuccessfully to shoot him.

The New Yorker

Shields later attempted, unsuccessfully, to suppress the picture.

The Guardian - Arts

Shortly afterwards, he attempted – unsuccessfully – to drown himself.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "attempts unsuccessfully", ensure that the context clearly establishes the goal of the attempt. This helps the reader understand what the subject is failing to achieve.

Common error

Avoid using redundant adverbs or phrases that reiterate the lack of success. For example, "attempts unsuccessfully with no positive outcome" is unnecessarily repetitive. Just "attempts unsuccessfully" is sufficient.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attempts unsuccessfully" functions as a verb phrase indicating an action (attempting) and modifying it with an adverb (unsuccessfully) to show the lack of success. It serves to describe an action that did not achieve its intended result. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "attempts unsuccessfully" describes an action taken without achieving the desired outcome. Ludwig AI analysis confirms it's grammatically correct, although relatively rare in usage. It appears most commonly in news and media, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly states the goal. Alternatives like "tries without success" or "fails in the attempt" can offer variety. Remember to avoid redundancy by not adding additional phrases that reiterate the lack of success.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tries without success

Replaces "attempts" with the more common verb "tries" while keeping the lack of success.

fails in the attempt

Emphasizes the failure as a direct result of the attempt.

makes a futile effort

Highlights the uselessness of the effort from the start.

endeavors in vain

Uses a more formal verb ("endeavors") and the adverbial phrase "in vain".

strives unsuccessfully

Similar to "attempts unsuccessfully" but uses "strives" which implies more effort.

is unsuccessful in the attempt

Changes the structure to use "is unsuccessful" as a predicate adjective.

cannot manage to

Focuses on the inability to achieve the desired outcome.

does not succeed in trying

More verbose, but clearly conveys the lack of success in the attempt.

takes a crack at something without prevailing

More informal, using the colloquialism "takes a crack at" and emphasizing the lack of prevailing.

gives it a shot and still fails

Very informal; replaces attempt with shot and explicitly states failure.

FAQs

What does "attempts unsuccessfully" mean?

The phrase "attempts unsuccessfully" means to try to do something but fail to achieve the desired outcome. It indicates an effort was made, but it was not successful.

What can I say instead of "attempts unsuccessfully"?

You can use alternatives like "tries without success", "fails in the attempt", or "makes a futile effort" depending on the context.

How to use "attempts unsuccessfully" in a sentence?

Here's an example of "attempts unsuccessfully" in a sentence: "The team attempts unsuccessfully to score in the final minutes of the game."

Is "attempts unsuccessfully" formal or informal?

"Attempts unsuccessfully" is generally considered neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "endeavors in vain" may be preferred in highly formal writing.