effort on that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "effort on that" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and lacks proper context, making it difficult to determine its intended meaning. Example: "I need to put more effort on that project if we want to meet the deadline."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

And so I really made a major effort on that.

The Washington Post

Choose a feature to highlight and focus that majority of your effort on that.

WikiHow

"We didn't make much of an effort on that one for obvious reason because most of us agreed with the motion," one said.

The Guardian

Mr. Obama's team has made a serious effort on that front, unlike its predecessors.

The New York Times

Torre was livid after the Yankees drifted through a 7-0 loss to Tampa Bay last week and immediately barked at them, challenging their effort on that night.

The New York Times - Sports

The lobbying effort on that rule was funded in part by companies, like Renaissance and Energy XXI, that were plagued by safety violations.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

"We have a mandate from the public for our economic policy, so I want to focus my efforts on that.

The Guardian

But the effort to build on that faces fresh challenges.

The Washington Post

Pharmaceutical companies spend a lot of time testing potential drugs, and they end up wasting much of that effort on candidates that don't pan out.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Comcast's SEEiT is only one of the efforts on that front.

TechCrunch

Less wasted effort on activities that aren't that important.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing effort, consider using prepositions like "towards" or "into" instead of "on" to improve clarity and grammatical correctness. For instance, prefer "effort towards that goal" over "effort on that goal".

Common error

Avoid using "on" directly after "effort" when indicating the target of the effort. This phrasing is often grammatically awkward. Instead, opt for prepositions that convey direction or investment, such as "towards" or "into".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "effort on that" functions as a prepositional phrase where "effort" is a noun, "on" is a preposition, and "that" is a pronoun. Despite its usage in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as not correct in standard English, suggesting alternative phrasing for clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Wiki

13%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

18%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "effort on that" appears in various contexts, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. This suggests a need for caution when using this phrase, especially in formal writing. More appropriate alternatives include "effort towards that" or "effort into that", which provide better clarity and grammatical correctness. Despite its common usage, as seen in several news and media sources, it is advisable to consider alternative phrasing to ensure precision and professionalism in your writing. Always aim for clarity and grammatical accuracy, even when a phrase seems commonly used. Always prefer verified alternatives to avoid sounding ambiguous.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

effort towards that

Replaces 'on' with 'towards' indicating a direction of effort.

effort into that

Substitutes 'on' with 'into' suggesting investment of effort.

focus efforts on that

Adds 'focus' emphasizing concentration of effort.

concentrate efforts on that

Uses 'concentrate' to highlight a focused application of effort.

direct effort to that

Employs 'direct' indicating a specific channeling of effort.

apply effort to that

Uses 'apply' to suggest a deliberate implementation of effort.

exert effort on that

Replaces 'put' with 'exert' implying a stronger application of effort.

devote effort to that

Highlights a committed allocation of effort.

expend effort on that

Uses 'expend' implying a measurable output of effort.

invest effort in that

Suggests effort is being contributed with an expectation of returns.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "effort" with a specific goal or object?

Instead of saying "effort on that", which is grammatically questionable, use phrases like "effort towards that" or "effort into that" for better clarity and correctness.

What are some alternatives to "effort on that" that sound more natural?

More natural-sounding alternatives include "focus efforts on that", "direct effort to that", or "apply effort to that", depending on the specific context.

Is "effort on that" grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "effort on that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing. Opt for more precise and accepted constructions such as "effort towards that" or "effort directed at that".

What's the difference between "effort on that" and "effort towards that"?

"Effort on that" is often perceived as grammatically awkward. "Effort towards that" is a more standard and clearer way to express directing energy or resources toward a specific goal.