end in vain

USAGE SUMMARY

'end in vain' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something has not been successful or has resulted in no benefit. For example: All his hard work to make the team successful seemed to end in vain.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

That is why I would appeal to all England-born Asian players to try their utmost to play for England, and only consider playing for India or Pakistan if their efforts end in vain.

The Guardian - Opinion

If what they've shared is true, it seems that the project as a whole began — and will likely end — in vain.

TechCrunch

The hosts' search for a winner seemed set to end in vain but with nine minutes left a loose ball from a corner fell invitingly for Bony, who blasted it through a crowd of bodies to earn the Swans a first victory since October.

BBC

No one tries the food and Marge's efforts end in vain once again.

Wikipedia

That all these searches for truth and meaning will likely end in vain doesn't make them any less fascinating.

Huffington Post

You know, any work without a written record may end in vain.

Human Resources for Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Shah's effort ended in vain for her after the government won the vote on the amendment.

The Guardian

"He didn't tell me this, but I just believe he will not want his son's life to have ended in vain.

The New York Times

The last 20 years have passed, with several rounds of negotiations ending in vain.

BBC

Glasgow, who won the home tie 20-16 in October, were content to run the clock down in the final stages as Exeter's hopes of securing more than a losing bonus point ended in vain.

BBC

His investigation ended in vain.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "end in vain" to convey a sense of disappointment or futility after significant effort or expectation. For instance, "Despite years of dedication, her efforts to save the rainforest seemed to "end in vain".

Common error

Avoid using "end in vain" in everyday situations where a simpler expression of failure would suffice. It can sound overly dramatic or melodramatic if applied too liberally.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "end in vain" functions as a predicate within a sentence, describing how an action or endeavor concludes. It indicates that the effort expended did not achieve its intended purpose or yield any positive result. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "end in vain" is grammatically correct and serves to describe situations where efforts or actions do not yield the desired outcome. Ludwig AI validates that the phrase is correct for use in english. While relatively uncommon, it effectively conveys disappointment or futility and it is categorized as neutral in formality. Its usage is most prevalent in news, media, scientific and wiki contexts. When aiming to communicate similar ideas, alternative phrases like ""come to nothing"" or ""be to no avail"" can be employed to add nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

come to nothing

Emphasizes the lack of result or accomplishment.

be all for naught

Highlights the futility and wasted effort.

prove fruitless

Focuses on the lack of positive outcome or result.

fall flat

Indicates a failure to achieve the desired impact.

be to no avail

Stresses the lack of success despite attempts.

fail to succeed

Simply states the absence of success.

yield no results

Emphasizes the absence of tangible outcomes.

end without success

Directly states the lack of success at the end.

turn out negatively

Highlights an adverse or unfavorable outcome.

dissolve into nothing

Implies a complete and utter failure, vanishing without a trace.

FAQs

How can I use "end in vain" in a sentence?

Use "end in vain" to describe situations where efforts or actions do not produce the desired or expected outcome. For example, "The peace talks seemed to "come to nothing", and all diplomatic efforts "ended in vain"".

What are some alternatives to "end in vain"?

Alternatives include "be all for naught", "prove fruitless", or "be to no avail". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey about the lack of success.

Is it more appropriate to say "ended in vain" or "end in vain"?

The choice between "ended in vain" and "end in vain" depends on the tense of your sentence. Use "ended in vain" for past events (e.g., "The negotiations ended in vain"). Use "end in vain" to describe a potential or habitual outcome (e.g., "His attempts may end in vain").

What's the difference between "end in vain" and "end without success"?

"End in vain" implies a sense of wasted effort or futility, suggesting that the effort was not only unsuccessful but also ultimately pointless. "End without success" is a more neutral statement that simply indicates a lack of positive outcome, without necessarily implying that the effort was a waste. For instance: Even if all these strategies "end without success", it doesn't mean they "end in vain". We still learned something.