efforts to try

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "efforts to try" is not considered correct in standard written English due to redundancy.
It can be used in contexts where one is discussing attempts or initiatives, but it is generally better to choose a more concise expression. Example: "Our efforts to try and improve the system have yielded some positive results."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Efforts to try terrorists in military tribunals have proved embarrassing.

The Economist

"We are making efforts to try to reinvolve them".

The New York Times

Congress has ignored your efforts to try to get them to undo these sequester cuts.

The New York Times

Prokhorov's visit coincides with the organization's continuing efforts to try to pry Carmelo Anthony from Denver.

The New York Times - Sports

Clearly, efforts to try out democratic methods in a dictatorship are likely to be severely punished.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But despite efforts to try to start negotiating, the sender went silent.

The Guardian

Artificial efforts to try to curb wealth gaps invariably do more harm than good.

The New York Times

"I mean, I appreciate his efforts to try to help us raise the minimum wage.

The Guardian - Money

Efforts to try to besiege Russia or Iran — the whole calculation is wrong.

The New York Times

No that doesn't mean that we give up our efforts to try to replace and repair Obamacare.

The New York Times

"We've made extensive efforts to try to find him," said Joshua White, the deputy city attorney trying the case.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "efforts to try" in formal writing. Opt for more concise alternatives like "efforts to" or "attempts to" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Using "efforts to try" can make your writing sound repetitive. Instead, streamline your sentence by stating the specific effort without including "try".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "efforts to try" functions as a connector indicating purpose. However, Ludwig AI analysis suggests it is redundant because the noun "efforts" inherently implies an attempt, making "to try" unnecessary. The structure aims to express the reason or intention behind taking action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "efforts to try" is frequently used, analysis reveals it is grammatically redundant. The phrase functions to indicate purpose, but the word "efforts" already implies an attempt. Ludwig AI highlights that more concise alternatives such as "attempts to" or simply "efforts to" offer clearer and more grammatically sound phrasing. Usage spans across news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts, but streamlining your writing by avoiding the redundancy enhances professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempts to

Replaces "efforts" with "attempts", resulting in a more concise phrasing. It keeps the meaning unchanged.

endeavors to

Substitutes "efforts" with "endeavors", offering a slightly more formal tone and emphasizing the undertaking.

initiatives to

Replaces "efforts" with "initiatives", highlighting a proactive start to achieve a goal.

actions to

Substitutes "efforts" with "actions", focusing on specific deeds to achieve a goal.

attempts at

Changes the structure to use "at" instead of "to", creating a noun-based phrasing.

steps to

Replaces "efforts" with "steps", emphasizing the sequential nature of the actions.

measures to

Substitutes "efforts" with "measures", focusing on specific actions taken.

campaigns to

Replaces "efforts" with "campaigns", suggesting a coordinated and sustained series of actions.

struggles to

Changes "efforts" to "struggles", emphasizing the difficulty or challenge involved.

trials to

Substitutes "efforts" with "trials", highlighting the experimental nature of the attempts.

FAQs

What is wrong with using the phrase "efforts to try"?

The phrase "efforts to try" is considered redundant. The word "efforts" already implies an attempt or endeavor, making the inclusion of "try" unnecessary. Using alternatives like "attempts to" or simply "efforts to" is more concise and grammatically sound.

What are some alternatives to "efforts to try"?

Several options can replace "efforts to try", depending on the context. Some alternatives include "attempts to", "endeavors to", or "initiatives to". Choosing a more direct and concise phrasing will improve the clarity of your writing.

Is "efforts to try" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "efforts to try" is not considered grammatically ideal due to redundancy. English writing prefers concise expressions, so using only ""efforts to"" is better.

How can I make my writing more concise when I'm tempted to use "efforts to try"?

When tempted to use "efforts to try", revise your sentence to eliminate the unnecessary "try". For example, instead of saying "Our efforts to try and improve the system...", say "Our "efforts to improve" the system..."