ever tried

USAGE SUMMARY

"ever tried" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone has some experience with an activity, but may not necessarily have succeeded. For example, "Have you ever tried camping in the wilderness?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I have ever tried".

The New Yorker

Have you ever tried therapy?

The New York Times

ERICA: Have you ever tried?

The New York Times

Ever tried listening?

The Guardian

He writes: "Ever tried.

The New York Times - Books

Ever tried it?

The Guardian

Have you ever tried it banana flavoured?

Independent

Have you ever tried barefoot running?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Nothing ever tried had made much difference.

The New Yorker

As he wrote: "Ever tried.

The Guardian

Nor has it ever tried.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ever tried" to inquire if someone has experience with an activity, especially when suggesting they might benefit from it.

Common error

Avoid using "ever tried" in statements where you're asserting your own experience. Instead, use "have tried" or "I've tried". For example, instead of saying "I ever tried that", say "I have tried that."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ever tried" primarily functions as part of an interrogative structure, used to inquire whether someone has had experience with a particular action or activity. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in asking about past experiences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

12%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ever tried" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase primarily employed in interrogative contexts to inquire about someone's past experiences with a particular activity. As noted by Ludwig, it is correctly used to ask whether someone has experience with something. The phrase maintains a neutral tone suitable for various settings, ranging from casual conversation to formal writing. While Ludwig's examples show its widespread use in news and media, it also appears in scientific and academic content. When aiming for clarity and precision, remember to use "ever tried" in questions and consider alternative phrases like "attempted before" when emphasizing past experience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempted before

Focuses on the act of attempting with prior experience.

previously attempted

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of the attempt being in the past.

tried at any point

Highlights the possibility of trying at any time.

had experience trying

Highlights past exposure and familiarization with something.

given a try before

Implies a past attempt to do something.

experimented with

Suggests a more exploratory approach.

tackled before

Implies a determined approach to overcome a challenge.

ventured into

Indicates a willingness to take risks and step out of comfort zones.

undertaken previously

Emphasizes the formal and intentional start of an action or task.

approached before

Focuses on the initial action of starting something.

FAQs

How can I use "ever tried" in a sentence?

You typically use "ever tried" in questions to ask if someone has experience with something. For instance, "Have you ever tried sushi?" or "Ever tried meditating before bed?"

What is the difference between "ever tried" and "tried before"?

"Ever tried" generally seeks to know if someone has any experience with something. "Tried before", like "previously attempted", implies that the action has occurred at least once in the past and focuses on the temporal aspect.

Is it correct to say "I ever tried that"?

No, "I ever tried that" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "I have tried that" or "I've tried that". The word "ever" is generally used in questions or negative statements.

What can I say instead of "ever tried" to emphasize past experience?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "attempted before", "previously attempted", or "had experience trying" to emphasize the element of prior experience.