former effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "former effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a previous attempt or endeavor in a specific context, often when comparing it to a current effort. Example: "The results of the former effort were not as successful as we had hoped, prompting us to try a new approach."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The former effort is futile culture war; the latter is the rightful province of civilization.

The New York Times

The former effort is led by Pennsylvania Republican lawmakers and their governor, who are moving to alter the way Pennsylvania counts its electoral votes.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Some people hope that Mr Aso might even revive his former efforts to make the shrine less controversial.

The Economist

Contemptuous of his former efforts to sanitise its image, unsated by his tepid Euroscepticism and resentful of his failure to win an outright majority in 2010, Tory right-wingers have never cared for Mr Cameron.

The Economist

Much tidier than his former efforts and rooted in punk, hip-hop, ragga and rock, it received positive reviews and reminded the public that at his best, the star's capable of side-stepping the scowling menace of his youth to present himself as stable artist who is still quite relevant.

Independent

Successive former efforts to model empirically the temporal and locational variations of the vertical-incidence characteristics fEs, foEs and fbEs are described.

Advances in Space Research

Here, the cytoplasmic endo-β-1,6-glucanase Exg3 from the model organism Schizosaccharomyces pombe[ 52] is a representative of the former efforts focused on the identification of fundamental activities.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The former's effort is off target, while the latter brings a save out of Petr Cech.

The Guardian - Sport

Both Maloney and James McClean presided over it and it was the former whose effort dipped over the wall and dropped into the bottom corner.

The Guardian - Sport

Celtic had chances to add to their lead through Johansen and Griffiths but Bain beat away the former's effort and the latter could not keep his volley down, while visiting keeper Craig Gordon made a stop to keep out Paul McGowan's deflected effort.

BBC

The former's efforts to secure a Palestinian state by negotiation with Israel or recognition at the United Nations have proved fruitless.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing a past action with a current one, use "former effort" to clearly distinguish the previous attempt from the present one.

Common error

Avoid misusing "former effort" when you actually intend to refer to the second of two mentioned efforts. "Former" always refers to the first item in a pair.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "former effort" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object in a sentence. It references a previous attempt or undertaking, often in contrast to a current or subsequent one. As Ludwig indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "former effort" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to refer to a previous attempt or undertaking. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. When writing, remember that "former" always refers to the first of two items being compared. Consider alternatives like "previous endeavor" or "prior attempt" to add variety to your writing. By avoiding common errors and following best practices, you can effectively use "former effort" to provide context and clarity in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous endeavor

Replaces "effort" with "endeavor", suggesting a serious or determined attempt.

prior attempt

Uses "attempt" to emphasize the act of trying, possibly implying a lack of success.

earlier undertaking

Substitutes "effort" with "undertaking", indicating a task that is taken on.

past endeavor

Highlights that the endeavor occurred in the past.

previous undertaking

Indicates an earlier task that was taken on.

prior initiative

Replaces "effort" with "initiative", focusing on the proactive nature of the attempt.

past action

Emphasizes the action taken in the past, differing from an ongoing effort.

earlier attempt

Highlights that the attempt occurred at an earlier time.

previous exertion

Replaces "effort" with "exertion", emphasizing the energy expended.

initial endeavor

Refers to the beginning of an endeavor.

FAQs

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

Use "former effort" to refer to a previous attempt or undertaking, especially when contrasting it with a current or later attempt. For instance, "The success of the current project stands in stark contrast to the results of our "former effort"."

What are some alternatives to "former effort"?

You can use alternatives such as "previous endeavor", "prior attempt", or "earlier undertaking", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the former effort" or "a former effort"?

Both are grammatically correct. "The former effort" refers to a specific, previously mentioned effort. "A former effort" refers to one of several past efforts. For example, "This is not the first time this has happened. A "former effort" also resulted in a similar issue."

What is the difference between "former effort" and "past effort"?

"Former effort" is typically used when comparing two specific efforts, while "past effort" is a more general reference to an effort that occurred in the past without a direct comparison. For example, "Reviewing our "past effort" helped us learn valuable lessons."