failed attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

"failed attempt" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when describing an action or effort which ultimately did not succeed. For example: "After his failed attempt at repairing the broken door, he was forced to call a professional."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All recent indicators would tell you, from two Supreme Court races, failed attempt on the state Senate, it will be a failed attempt on Scott Walker.

The New York Times

Her downfall in "Cartwheel" does not suggest a young woman's failed attempt at sexual liberation so much as it does an intellectual's failed attempt to be carefree.

The New York Times - Books

Having had one failed attempt.

The New York Times

Another failed attempt to find work.

The New York Times

That was the original failed attempt.

The Guardian - Music

Describes a failed attempt by the three men to reconcile.

The New Yorker

And although the board "did not really take," D'Agostino learnt from the failed attempt.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Two decades after Mr. Clinton's ultimately failed attempt, Obamacare poses the same sort of threat.

The New York Times

But Nyad was convinced that with each failed attempt she'd learned something.

The New Yorker

The subject: the Gunpowder Plot, a failed attempt to assassinate the king in 1605.

The New York Times - Arts

He also wrote the ads for Rockefeller's failed attempt to win the 1968 Republican presidential nomination.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a "failed attempt", be specific about what the attempt was intended to achieve and, if relevant, the reasons for its failure.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that there was a "failed attempt" without providing context or details about the nature and purpose of the attempt. Explain the context surrounding the failed attempt.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failed attempt" functions as an adjective-noun compound, where "failed" modifies "attempt". It describes a specific instance of an effort that did not succeed. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failed attempt" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe an effort that did not achieve its intended goal. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a standard construction in English. Its usage spans a range of contexts, from news reports to scientific papers, though it's most prevalent in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure you provide sufficient context to clarify the nature and purpose of the attempt. Consider alternative phrases like "unsuccessful effort" or "fruitless endeavor" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsuccessful effort

Replaces "attempt" with a more general term for effort, maintaining a similar level of formality.

futile effort

Highlights the pointlessness or ineffectiveness of the attempt.

abortive effort

Uses "abortive" to emphasize the failure to fully develop or succeed.

fruitless endeavor

Emphasizes the lack of positive outcome or result from the effort.

unavailing effort

Indicates that the attempt was ultimately ineffective in achieving its goal.

botched undertaking

Implies incompetence or mishandling in the execution of the attempt.

doomed enterprise

Suggests that the attempt was destined to fail from the beginning.

miscarriage

Implies a failure to achieve an intended outcome.

fiasco

Denotes a complete and often embarrassing failure.

non-starter

Indicates that the attempt never had a chance of succeeding.

FAQs

How can I use "failed attempt" in a sentence?

You can use "failed attempt" to describe any unsuccessful effort or endeavor. For example, "The rescue mission was a "failed attempt" to save the trapped miners".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "failed attempt"?

Alternatives include "unsuccessful effort", "abortive effort", or "fruitless endeavor", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "attempt failed" grammatically correct?

While grammatically understandable, "attempt failed" is less common and less idiomatic than ""failed attempt"". The latter is a more natural and frequently used construction.

What's the difference between a "failed attempt" and a "successful attempt"?

A ""failed attempt"" indicates that an effort did not achieve its desired outcome, while a "successful attempt" indicates that the effort did achieve its goal.