but without success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'but without success' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are attempting to describe a situation in which something was attempted but did not produce the desired results. For example: He tried to unlock the door using a hairpin, but without success.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Bf1, but without success.

The New York Times - Style

Stunned, the owners appealed but without success.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Drug therapy was tried but without success.

The New York Times

I tried to scare the animal away, but without success.

University of California, Berkeley

"We have been trying to do that, but without success.

Independent

For hours he thought and thought, but without success.

The New Yorker

I've tried to reassure her, but without success.

The New York Times

The church resisted recommended changes but without success.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ms. Spiotta tried writing short stories, but without success.

The New York Times - Books

DNA matches have been sought, but without success.

The New Yorker

Guerrero contacted the Australian press, but without success.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but without success" to clearly indicate that an attempt was made, but it did not achieve the desired outcome. This phrase is particularly useful when you want to emphasize the effort that was put in despite the lack of a positive result.

Common error

Avoid constructing sentences where the actor performing the action is obscured or omitted. Instead of saying "The problem was addressed, but without success", specify who addressed the problem, such as "The team addressed the problem, but without success".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but without success" serves as a conjunction phrase, connecting a previous action or attempt with its unsuccessful outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to indicate that an effort was made, yet the desired result was not achieved.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

13%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but without success" is a common conjunction phrase used to indicate that an attempt was made but did not yield the desired outcome. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and academic writing. While it is generally neutral in register, it's important to avoid overusing passive voice when constructing sentences with this phrase for clarity. Alternatives like "but to no avail" or "but it failed" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

but to no avail

Emphasizes the futility of the effort, suggesting a lack of any positive result.

but it was unsuccessful

Directly states that the attempt did not achieve the intended outcome.

but it failed

A more concise way of saying that something did not succeed.

but in vain

Highlights the wasted effort or lack of purpose in the attempt.

but the attempt was fruitless

Suggests that the effort yielded no valuable results or outcomes.

but the effort proved abortive

Indicates that the effort was cut short or did not fully develop, leading to failure.

but nothing came of it

Implies that the attempt produced no tangible or significant outcome.

but it didn't work

An informal way to express that something was attempted but did not function as expected.

but it proved ineffective

Focuses on the lack of effectiveness of the attempt in achieving its goal.

but it was all for naught

Expresses that the effort was completely wasted and achieved nothing.

FAQs

How can I use "but without success" in a sentence?

You can use "but without success" to show that an attempt was made, but it didn't achieve the result you wanted. For example, "He tried to fix the car, but without success".

What are some alternatives to "but without success"?

Alternatives include "but to no avail", "but it was unsuccessful", or "but it failed", depending on the context.

Is there a more formal way to say "but without success"?

Yes, a more formal alternative could be "however, the endeavor proved unfruitful" or "however, the effort did not yield the desired outcome".

How does "but without success" compare to "but unsuccessful"?

"But without success" emphasizes the attempt made, while "but unsuccessful" simply states the lack of success. The former implies effort, while the latter is a more direct statement of failure.