be in vain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be in vain" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe an effort that has been unsuccessful or unproductive. For example: "My attempts to contact the customer service representative proved to be in vain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I know it would be in vain.

The New York Times

It will not be in vain.

The Economist

But the move may be in vain.

The Guardian - Opinion

His death will not be in vain".

The Guardian

Your greater suffering will be in vain.

The New York Times

The sacrifices can't be in vain".

The New York Times

Would their financial sacrifice be in vain?

The Guardian

Your death will not be in vain".

The New York Times

/ Our Civil Right leaders work will never be in vain".

The New Yorker

"Let his life not be in vain," Father Lane said.

The New York Times

"The martyrdom will not be in vain," it proclaims.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be in vain" to emphasize that an action or effort, despite being well-intentioned or diligently pursued, ultimately yields no positive results. It adds a touch of disappointment or frustration to the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "be in vain" when simply stating that something is difficult or requires more effort. The phrase implies a complete lack of success despite considerable effort. If the task is ongoing, use a phrase like "encounter challenges" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be in vain" primarily functions as a predicate adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe its state or outcome. It indicates that something has been done without achieving the desired result, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be in vain" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe efforts that ultimately prove unsuccessful. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is versatile, appearing frequently in contexts such as news, business, and science. When using this phrase, remember that it carries a connotation of disappointment and futility, implying that considerable effort was spent without achieving the desired outcome. For alternative expressions, consider phrases like "prove fruitless", "come to nothing", or ""be to no avail"" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be to no avail

Emphasizes the lack of effect or impact despite effort or attempts.

be futile

Emphasizes the hopelessness and lack of potential for success; carries a strong sense of despair.

prove fruitless

Focuses on the lack of results after an effort; emphasizes the absence of positive outcome.

come to nothing

Implies a failure to achieve any intended purpose or result; highlights complete lack of success.

be ineffective

Highlights the lack of effectiveness of a particular action or method.

be unsuccessful

A general term for not achieving a desired outcome; less emphatic than "be in vain".

fail to achieve

Focuses on the lack of attainment of a specific goal or objective.

be pointless

Suggests a lack of purpose or value in an action; indicates a waste of time or effort.

fall flat

Implies a failure to produce the intended effect or result; suggests a lack of impact or resonance.

not pan out

Informal way of saying something didn't work out as planned; suggests an unexpected failure.

FAQs

How can I use "be in vain" in a sentence?

Use "be in vain" to describe actions or efforts that do not produce the intended or desired outcome, emphasizing the lack of success despite the attempt. For example, "His efforts to persuade her proved to "be to no avail"".

What can I say instead of "be in vain"?

You can use alternatives like "prove fruitless", "come to nothing", or ""be to no avail"" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say 'was in vain'?

Yes, it is correct. The verb "be" can be conjugated to different tenses, such as "was", "is", "will be", etc., depending on the context and tense of the sentence. For example, "His sacrifice was ultimately "futile"".

What's the difference between "be in vain" and "be useless"?

"Be in vain" implies that effort was expended but yielded no results, whereas "be useless" suggests something has no purpose or function, regardless of whether effort was applied. "Be useless" refers to inherent lack of usefullness, whereas "be in vain" speaks to an action's lack of efficacy.