best attempts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "best attempts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express the idea of making the most effort possible to achieve something, often in the context of trying to meet a goal or standard. Example: "We will make our best attempts to complete the project by the deadline, despite the challenges we face."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Despite her family's best attempts, the locals' suspicions also grow.

The Guardian

Yet on the page, as in life, Byron resists his friends' best attempts to sanitise him.

Independent

The film is up there among the very best attempts to commit sport to screen.

Independent

Fabio Luisi's best attempts to wrench emotion from the music were to no avail for me.

The New York Times - Arts

We'll publish the best attempts at independent.co.uk/ thetango instructor on Friday 6 March.

Independent

Even the best attempts at cure do not come without strings attached.

The New York Times

Derbyshire was never officially credited on the show, despite Grainer's best attempts.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

After the lifting of martial law in 1983, the government, despite its best attempts, could not establish its legitimacy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Despite his best attempts to reassure them — "I see no movement, no talk, no bills, no nothing" — they remained skeptical.

The New York Times

But the secrecy that surrounds many of the settlements makes the best attempts at such understanding futile.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The past seven days have been, despite Mr Peskov's best attempts, a public relations disaster.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "best attempts" to convey that a significant effort was made, even if the desired outcome wasn't achieved. This acknowledges the effort and manages expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "best attempts" when the outcome was undeniably successful. It implies there were challenges or a possibility of failure, so it's misleading when the result was clearly positive and straightforward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "best attempts" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "best" modifies "attempts". It indicates the highest level of effort or the most well-intentioned actions taken to achieve a goal. Ludwig examples show it used to describe efforts that may or may not have been successful.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "best attempts" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the highest level of effort exerted to achieve a goal. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use across diverse contexts, with a primary focus in News & Media. While it can imply that the outcome was not fully successful, it underscores the dedication and effort invested. Alternatives such as "utmost efforts" or "greatest endeavors" can be used to modify the nuance of the phrase. Ludwig confirms that "best attempts" is suitable for neutral to formal registers, making it a versatile expression for various writing needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utmost efforts

Replaces "best" with "utmost", emphasizing the maximum possible exertion of effort.

greatest endeavors

Substitutes "attempts" with "endeavors", suggesting a more ambitious or challenging undertaking.

top efforts

Uses "top" to indicate the highest level of effort.

finest endeavors

Replaces "attempts" with "endeavors", and "best" with "finest" suggesting a refined and skillful effort.

most valiant tries

Emphasizes courage and determination in the attempts made.

hardest tries

Focuses on the intensity of effort exerted.

most assiduous endeavors

Highlights diligence and persistence in the attempts.

most determined efforts

Stresses the resolve and commitment behind the attempts.

prime efforts

Suggests the use of the highest quality or most effective efforts.

leading endeavors

Implies efforts that are pioneering or setting an example.

FAQs

How can I use "best attempts" in a sentence?

You can use "best attempts" to describe the effort made to achieve something, even if the result wasn't perfect. For example, "Despite our best attempts, we couldn't meet the deadline."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "best attempts"?

You can use alternatives like "utmost efforts", "greatest endeavors", or "top efforts" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to qualify "attempts" with "best"?

No, it's not always necessary. Using just "attempts" is appropriate when you simply want to refer to efforts made. Adding "best" emphasizes the quality or intensity of those efforts. It's a matter of nuance and what you want to highlight.

What's the difference between "best attempts" and "best efforts"?

The phrases are very similar and often interchangeable. "Best attempts" focuses more on the specific actions or tries made, while "best efforts" is a broader term encompassing all the energy and resources put into something.