exerting oneself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exerting oneself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of making a significant effort or putting in hard work towards a task or goal. Example: "In order to achieve her fitness goals, she found herself exerting herself during every workout session."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

When I hear the term "hard-working", I feel the urge to make the case for laziness, or for exerting oneself no more than moderately.

The Guardian - Opinion

The process, whereby rational efforts are made by the jurist to arrive at an appropriate ruling, when applied is called ijtihad (literally meaning "exerting oneself").

Wikipedia

From carrying heavy items to exerting oneself playing a game, people who are not used to exercising and have risk factors for heart disease, are at an increased risk.

Huffington Post

There is no harm in exerting oneself.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Modesty consists in an awareness of the perspective of others and a readiness to curtail one's own unseemly behavior; love of humanity is a willingness to exert oneself on others' behalf.

SEP

The proportion of variation due to disease/treatment heterogeneity was high and significant for the scales that measured ability to exert oneself, anginal frequency and perception of disease (ECS, AFS and DPS, I2 all equal to 87%), but was lower for angina severity (ASS) (Table 3).

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

The two main manifestations of love are as a hunger for the presence of a person or thing and as a willingness to exert oneself to help someone.

WikiHow

In one way or another, they involve an avoidant action, one that exerts force away from oneself, as if pushing something away.

The New York Times

The interaction "group membership*tinnitus" proved not to be significant (p = 0.60) indicating that claiming oneself as electromagnetic hypersensitive and suffering from tinnitus are independent risk factors for sleep disturbances with electromagnetic hypersensitivity exerting an even greater influence on sleep quality than tinnitus (table 3).

Plosone

Prosecutors denied exerting undue pressure.

The New York Times

What is new here is the finding that prior work experience can exert a positive influence on the propensity to work for oneself.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exerting oneself" when you want to emphasize the act of applying considerable effort, either physically or mentally, to achieve a goal or complete a task.

Common error

Avoid using "exerting oneself" in overly casual or informal situations where simpler alternatives like "trying hard" or "making an effort" would be more appropriate. The phrase carries a slightly formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exerting oneself" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as a noun. It describes the act of making a considerable effort or applying oneself diligently to a task. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exerting oneself" is a grammatically correct and usable gerund phrase in English, typically employed to describe the act of applying significant effort or energy toward a particular objective. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and showcases its usage across various contexts. While slightly formal, it maintains a neutral register suitable for both news media and scientific writing. When considering alternative phrasings, it's important to focus on the specific shade of meaning and effort that you want to convey to your reader. Depending on the context, consider alternatives as "putting forth effort" or "applying oneself".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

putting forth effort

Focuses on the act of initiating effort, rather than the intensity.

making a strenuous effort

Emphasizes the difficulty and intensity of the effort.

striving diligently

Highlights persistent and careful effort toward a goal.

applying oneself

Focuses on directing one's attention and energy to a specific task.

working assiduously

Implies constant and dedicated effort.

endeavoring earnestly

Stresses a sincere and serious attempt.

straining oneself

Suggests pushing oneself to the limit, potentially beyond comfort.

taxing oneself

Highlights the burden or demand placed on oneself.

pushing oneself

Implies overcoming resistance or limitations.

dedicating oneself

Focuses on committing one's time and energy to a specific purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "exerting oneself" in a sentence?

You can use "exerting oneself" to describe making a significant effort. For example, "From carrying heavy items to "exerting oneself" playing a game, people who are not used to exercising and have risk factors for heart disease, are at an increased risk."

What are some alternatives to "exerting oneself"?

Alternatives to "exerting oneself" include "putting forth effort", "making a strenuous effort", or "applying oneself", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "exerting oneself" formal or informal?

"Exerting oneself" tends to be slightly more formal. In casual contexts, consider using simpler phrases like "trying hard" or "making an effort".

What's the difference between "exerting oneself" and "pushing oneself"?

"Exerting oneself" generally refers to applying effort, while "pushing oneself" implies going beyond one's limits, often to the point of discomfort or strain. "Pushing oneself" suggests more intensity and potential risk of overexertion.