expend effort

USAGE SUMMARY

'expend effort' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe the action of putting in a lot of effort in order to accomplish something. For example: "The students expended a lot of effort in order to complete their school project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

This paper examines the psychological underpinnings of users' willingness to expend effort to personalise ICT.

Interacting with Computers

Why expend effort to entertain when your fans cheer the merest platitude and whoop the slightest sashay of the hips?

The Guardian

More importantly, the results support the long-standing notion that the measurement of cognitive impairments in SZ is highly linked to a willingness to expend effort.

Schizophrenia Research

Although Lens.com affiliates do expend effort to promote Defendant's service mark, they nevertheless act "primarily for their own benefit". Indeed, Lens.

Harvard University

Willingness to expend effort in order to obtain rewards and avoid harm may be a crucial distinguishing feature among individuals vulnerable to anxiety or depression.

University of California, Berkeley

Moreover, keeping things secret just encourages people to uncover the secrets if something is worth hiding, it must be important and interesting enough to expend effort discovering.

Harvard Business Review

Certainly there needs to be an effort to better communicate climate changes and the uncertainties to the end-user level — farmers etc. — so they do not expend effort or capital on trying to adapt to a change that is unlikely.

The New York Times

There's more than enough power and torque – 215bhp and 295lb ft respectively – available across a delightfully wide rev range, so you don't have to expend effort trying to conjure it up.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Min Basadur maintains that it's common for companies to expend efforts asking the wrong questions and trying to solve the wrong problems.

Harvard Business Review

You're expending effort, but not a whole lot.

Yale University

Mr. Scherer is a hoofer, expending effort for the effect of effortlessness.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "expend effort" with a clear explanation of the goal or purpose to highlight the value and impact of the effort invested.

Common error

Avoid using "expend effort" in casual conversation. Simpler alternatives like "try hard" or "make an effort" are often more appropriate for informal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expend effort" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, indicating the action of putting forth energy and resources to achieve a specific goal. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms it is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

34%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "expend effort" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that describes the investment of energy and resources toward a goal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase. While appropriate for formal and professional settings like science, academia, and news media, it may sound out of place in casual conversation. Consider alternatives like "make an effort" or "try hard" in more informal contexts. The phrase's primary function is to emphasize the significant dedication of resources, making it a valuable tool for precise and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dedicate effort

Focuses on commitment and allocation of resources.

exert effort

Emphasizes the application of power or influence.

invest effort

Highlights the allocation of resources with an expectation of return.

devote effort

Stresses dedication and commitment to a particular cause or task.

apply oneself

Focuses on concentrating one's energy and attention.

put in work

An informal way to describe investing time and energy.

make an effort

Highlights the intention and conscious attempt to achieve something.

strive to achieve

Conveys the act of trying hard to reach a goal.

endeavor to accomplish

Implies a serious and determined attempt to achieve a goal.

take pains

Highlights the care and attention given to a task.

FAQs

How can I use "expend effort" in a sentence?

You can use "expend effort" to describe dedicating time and resources to a task, such as, "The team had to "dedicate effort" to complete the project on time".

What are some alternatives to "expend effort"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "exert effort", "invest effort", or "devote effort".

When is it appropriate to use "expend effort"?

"Expend effort" is suitable for formal writing, reports, and discussions where you need to emphasize the commitment of significant resources to achieve a specific outcome. In informal conversations it may sound stilted.

Is there a difference between "expend effort" and "make an effort"?

While both phrases relate to trying, "expend effort" suggests a more substantial investment of time and energy, while "make an effort" can imply a more general attempt.