did not attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

"did not attempt" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use "did not attempt" when it is important to communicate that someone or something did not take action. For example: "The student did not attempt to complete the quiz."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ashurbanipal did not attempt to reconquer it.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(I did not attempt to verify this).

The New York Times

He did not attempt great new conquests.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He did not attempt a shot Tuesday.

The New York Times - Sports

He did not attempt any last night.

The New York Times - Sports

The government did not attempt to exclude him from any.

Cornell University

But Anthony did not attempt the winning shot.

The New York Times - Sports

He did not attempt a comeback for the money.

The New York Times - Sports

Jenkins did not attempt to mask the disappointment.

Independent

Iowa State did not attempt a free throw, either.

The New York Times - Sports

He did not attempt to disguise his identity.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "did not attempt" to clearly and directly state that someone or something did not make an effort to perform a specific action. This phrase avoids ambiguity and is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid stacking negative constructions. Instead of saying "did not not attempt", rephrase to a positive statement like "succeeded" or "achieved" to enhance clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not attempt" functions primarily as a verbal phrase expressing the absence of action. It uses the auxiliary verb "did" to negate the verb "attempt", indicating that a particular action or effort was not undertaken. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "did not attempt" is a versatile and commonly used expression to indicate the absence of effort or action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and applicable in various contexts, from news reports and scientific studies to academic papers. When writing, be mindful of potential overuse of negation and consider alternatives like "made no attempt" for variety. Remember to use "did not attempt" when directness is key and clearly stating the lack of action is important.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made no attempt

Emphasizes the complete absence of any effort.

did not try

A more informal and direct way of saying someone didn't make an effort.

refrained from trying

Highlights a conscious decision to avoid attempting something.

avoided attempting

Indicates an active avoidance of making an attempt.

took no action

Focuses on the lack of action taken, implying no attempt was made.

didn't bother to try

Suggests a lack of motivation or interest in attempting something.

neglected to attempt

Implies a failure to attempt something due to oversight or negligence.

passed up the chance to attempt

Highlights a missed opportunity to make an attempt.

declined to attempt

Suggests a formal refusal or unwillingness to attempt something.

failed to try

Emphasizes the lack of trying which resulted to a failure.

FAQs

How can I use "did not attempt" in a sentence?

You can use "did not attempt" to indicate a lack of effort or action towards a specific goal. For instance, "The student "did not attempt" to answer the bonus question on the exam."

What are some alternatives to saying "did not attempt"?

Alternatives include phrases like "made no attempt", "did not try", or "refrained from trying", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "did not attempt" and "failed to attempt"?

"Did not attempt" simply states that no effort was made. "Failed to attempt" implies that there might have been a prior intention or obligation, but ultimately the attempt wasn't made and resulted to a failure. Use ""did not attempt"" when emphasizing the absence of action.

When is it appropriate to use "did not attempt" in formal writing?

The phrase "did not attempt" is suitable for formal writing when you need to clearly and directly state that an effort was not made. It is appropriate in academic papers, reports, and official documents where clarity and precision are essential.