formidable effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "formidable effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or impressive amount of work or determination put into a task or project. Example: "The team made a formidable effort to complete the project ahead of schedule, showcasing their dedication and hard work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Creating effective machine translation software requires a formidable effort.

The New York Times - Tech

In the mid-1990s, Greece made a formidable effort to meet the convergence criteria.

The Guardian

Over the past 30 years many lawyers and legal academics have contributed to the formidable effort by the Chinese government to build a modern legal system.

The New York Times

Indeed, it is in Dr Smith's name that the paper announcing the synthesis is published along, of course, with the 16 others including Dr Venter himself.It is a formidable effort.

The Economist

The insignificant divergence of 0.07% of GDP from the treaty limit, which was adopted uncritically by the administration of the eurozone, thus became the reason to disparage a very formidable effort of economic adjustment.

The Guardian

The news raised fears that Japan may slip back into deflation, despite a formidable effort by the central bank over the past two years to break the country's deflationary spiral.Consumer prices in the euro zone fell by 0.1% year on year in March.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

At thirty-four, Hepburn was back at the top through her own formidable efforts, and she had also finally "discovered what 'I love you' really means".

The New Yorker

"Despite the formidable efforts of the Irish presidency, the agreement adopted goes against key measures such as large pictorial warnings, which cost nothing to governments but would better protect millions of European children," she said in a statement.

The New York Times

With these substantial gaps in CEmONC coverage, formidable efforts are necessary to achieve the MDG 5 target of 175 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in Burkina Faso [ 23].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

No wonder electronics giant Samsung has invested huge sums into developing graphene as a material for screens and electronics; Nokia is backing a billion-euro project to exploit the carbon material and IBM has started a formidable research effort.

BBC

So in conclusion: maybe, but that's not to take anything away from an incredible piece of visual film-making backed by a formidable marketing effort from the studio.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "formidable effort" with verbs that reflect dedication and achievement, such as "undertake", "demonstrate", or "require", to enhance the impact of your message.

Common error

While "formidable effort" is impactful, avoid using it excessively in a single piece of writing. Overuse can dilute its effect and make your writing sound repetitive. Instead, consider varying your language with synonyms like "considerable endeavor" or "significant undertaking".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "formidable effort" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "formidable" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "effort". Ludwig examples show it used to describe significant attempts or undertakings across various domains. It adds emphasis to the scale or intensity of the effort.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "formidable effort" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, as confirmed by Ludwig. It serves to describe an undertaking that requires significant strength, skill, or resources. While not exceedingly common, it finds frequent use in news, science, and business contexts. When using this phrase, consider its implications of challenge and intensity, and be mindful of overuse to maintain its impact. Alternatives like "considerable endeavor" or "significant undertaking" can provide variety while conveying similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerable endeavor

Replaces "effort" with "endeavor", suggesting a determined attempt to achieve something.

significant undertaking

Substitutes both "formidable" and "effort" with terms emphasizing the scale and importance of the task.

substantial exertion

Focuses on the energy and labor involved, using "exertion" instead of "effort".

major undertaking

Highlights the size and complexity of the task, using a more common adjective than "formidable".

strenuous attempt

Emphasizes the difficulty and rigor involved in the effort.

vigorous attempt

Highlights the active and energetic nature of the effort.

intensive endeavor

Focuses on the concentrated nature of the effort.

herculean task

Implies an extremely difficult or demanding effort, referencing the mythical hero Hercules.

challenging endeavor

Highlights that the effort has difficulties and needs skill to be carried out.

aggressive push

Suggests a determined and forceful effort to achieve a specific goal.

FAQs

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

You can use "formidable effort" to describe a task that requires significant strength, skill, or determination. For example, "The project required a "formidable effort" from the entire team to complete on time."

What are some alternatives to "formidable effort"?

Alternatives include "considerable endeavor", "significant undertaking", or "substantial exertion", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "formidable effort" or "significant effort"?

"Formidable effort" implies a task that is not only significant but also presents considerable challenges and requires exceptional strength or skill. "Significant effort" is a more general term for any noteworthy exertion. The choice depends on the degree of challenge you wish to emphasize.

Can "formidable effort" be used in both formal and informal contexts?

While "formidable effort" is generally suitable for formal contexts due to its elevated tone, it can also be used in neutral contexts when describing a particularly challenging undertaking. It's less common in very informal settings.