despite numerous attempts

USAGE SUMMARY

"despite numerous attempts" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to denote when someone has tried to do something multiple times but has not accomplished it. For example, you could say: "Despite numerous attempts, she could not solve the puzzle."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Bevan was unavailable for comment despite numerous attempts to contact him.

The Guardian - Sport

Despite numerous attempts to establish their existence, empirical evidence of political business cycles remains rather equivocal.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, it is a regressive tax, despite numerous attempts to make it more equitable.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The plant has remained shut ever since, despite numerous attempts to reopen it.

The Economist

This was despite numerous attempts by the practice to continue working with the museum".

Independent

Despite numerous attempts over the years to disentangle them from their good-girl image, they have resisted.

The New York Times

Despite numerous attempts via 311 to get the sidewalks cleared, no public agency (not sanitation, not parks, not the M.T.A).

The New York Times

Despite numerous attempts at style standardization, the merging and growth of these various agencies proved an administrative nightmare.

The New Yorker

The fact is, they have never appeared onstage together, despite numerous attempts over the years to lure Ms. Streep back to the theater.

The New York Times - Arts

The identity of the founder of the software – known pseudonymously as Satoshi Nakamoto – has never been revealed, despite numerous attempts by news organisations to uncover it.

The Guardian - Tech

Mr. Shibh did not succeed in getting an American visa despite numerous attempts, and he left Germany for Pakistan just before Sept. 11.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despite numerous attempts" to clearly indicate that an action was tried repeatedly without success, emphasizing the persistence and futility of the effort. It's often used to set a tone of resignation or frustration.

Common error

Avoid using "despite numerous attempts" when you want to highlight the positive aspects of trying, such as resilience. This phrase emphasizes failure, so choose alternatives that focus on effort rather than outcome if you wish to maintain a positive tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despite numerous attempts" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically introducing a clause that contrasts with a previous statement or situation. As confirmed by Ludwig, it indicates that something did not succeed even after repeated efforts. It's commonly used to express frustration, resignation, or highlight the difficulty of a task.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

36%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despite numerous attempts" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase that serves to highlight the repeated but unsuccessful efforts to achieve a specific outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts, particularly in scientific and news-related domains. While suitable for both formal and informal writing, it's essential to be mindful of its emphasis on failure and to choose alternative phrases when a more positive tone is desired. The phrase is found in authoritative sources such as the PlosOne, BMC Genomics, and The New York Times, demonstrating its widespread acceptance and usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in spite of many tries

Replaces "numerous attempts" with a more informal "many tries".

regardless of repeated efforts

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the efforts and uses "regardless of" instead of "despite".

even with countless tries

Substitutes "numerous" with "countless" to highlight the large number of attempts.

notwithstanding multiple endeavors

A more formal alternative, using "notwithstanding" and "endeavors".

despite a multitude of endeavors

Uses "multitude" for emphasis and "endeavors" for a more formal tone.

for all the efforts made

Focuses on the efforts expended rather than the attempts themselves.

though numerous efforts were expended

A more passive and formal construction.

after a series of failed experiments

Specifically refers to experimental failures, implying a scientific context.

even after considerable exertion

Highlights the effort and energy expended.

following several unsuccessful bids

Implies a formal bidding or application process.

FAQs

How can I use "despite numerous attempts" in a sentence?

You can use "despite numerous attempts" to indicate that something has not been achieved even after many tries. For example, "Despite numerous attempts, the team could not score a goal".

What are some alternatives to "despite numerous attempts"?

Alternatives include "in spite of many tries", "regardless of repeated efforts", or "even with countless tries".

Is it better to say "despite numerous attempts" or "despite many attempts"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. "Despite numerous attempts" emphasizes a larger quantity of attempts compared to "despite many attempts".

Can "despite numerous attempts" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "despite numerous attempts" is suitable for formal writing. However, more formal alternatives like "notwithstanding multiple endeavors" may be preferred in certain contexts.