effort to do

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "effort to do" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express the act of trying to accomplish something, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "She made a significant effort to do well on her exams."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It takes effort to do well.

The New York Times

But the effort to do so is interesting.

The New York Times

Not that it made any unambiguous effort to do so.

The New Yorker

Very few people made the effort to do the research".

The New York Times

But it's not really a conscious effort to do it.

The New York Times - Sports

"They're making every effort to do this through deceit.

The New York Times

It's not a massive effort to do that".

The Guardian - Arts

He's making an honest effort to do it.

The New York Times

"It's quite an effort to do the fund-raising".

The New York Times - Science

It takes great effort to do that virtually".

The New York Times

In my effort to do my best, I had overdone it again.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When conveying a sense of striving or applying oneself, consider using alternatives like "make an effort to", "attempt to", or "endeavor to" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using the truncated phrase "effort to do" in formal writing. Although common, it lacks the explicit subject and verb often required for clear communication. Instead, specify who is making the effort and why: "They made an effort to complete the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "effort to do" functions as a noun phrase followed by an infinitive, indicating an intention or attempt. However, it often lacks the clarity of a complete sentence, as noted by Ludwig AI, requiring a subject and verb for full grammatical correctness. Many examples in Ludwig show this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "effort to do" is frequently used, especially in News & Media, it is considered grammatically questionable. As Ludwig AI indicates, it lacks clarity and often requires rephrasing for formal writing. Alternatives such as "make an effort to", "attempt to", or "endeavor to" offer greater grammatical precision and clarity. When clarity and grammatical correctness are crucial, opting for these alternatives is advisable. The prevalence of "effort to do" in various sources suggests common usage, but not necessarily correct usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make every attempt

Highlights diligence and determination in trying to achieve a goal.

make an attempt to

Replaces "effort" with "attempt" and adds a verb, emphasizing the action of trying.

attempt to achieve

Substitutes "effort" with "attempt" and "do" with "achieve", implying a trial or experiment.

endeavor to accomplish

Replaces "effort" with "endeavor" and "do" with "accomplish", adding a slightly more formal tone.

strive to perform

Replaces "effort" with "strive" and "do" with "perform", emphasizing continuous and energetic exertion.

try to execute

Focuses on the act of carrying something out, replacing "effort" with "try".

work toward completing

Emphasizes the process of advancing towards a finished state.

take steps to finalize

Highlights specific actions taken to bring something to a conclusion.

dedicate oneself to

Shifts the focus to personal commitment and application of energy.

exert oneself to

Emphasizes the physical or mental strain involved in the action.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "effort to do" for better clarity?

For improved clarity, replace "effort to do" with phrases like "make an effort to", "attempt to", or "endeavor to". These alternatives specify the action being taken.

Is "effort to do" grammatically correct in formal writing?

While commonly used, "effort to do" is often considered grammatically weak. Opt for more complete phrases like "a conscious effort to" or "dedicated effort to" for greater precision.

What's the difference between "effort to do" and "attempt to"?

"Effort to do" often implies a general attempt without specifying who is making the effort. "Attempt to", on the other hand, explicitly denotes an action someone is trying to perform.

When should I use "make an effort to" instead of "effort to do"?

Use "make an effort to" when you want to emphasize the active process of trying to achieve something, especially when attributing the action to a specific subject. For example, "She made an effort to understand the problem" is clearer than "Effort to do understand the problem".