great attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

"great attempt" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express admiration or appreciation when someone has put a lot of effort into something even if the result was not exactly successful. For example, "You did a great attempt at solving that math problem, but it looks like you still need some practice!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

President Clinton's Camp David summit was the second great attempt to partition Palestine.

The New York Times

The PGOUM was perhaps Spain's last great attempt at rational modernist urban planning with an emphasis on social justice.

Cities

The creation of the welfare state in 1948 was the last great attempt to organise society for the common good.

The Guardian - Opinion

Janis was taken to Stalingrad and shot, one of nearly 36,000 people exiled or killed that year in Stalin's first great attempt to crush Latvian opposition.

The New York Times

The idea that the principal function of a myth is to provide a justification for a ritual was adopted without any great attempt to make a case for it.

Encyclopedia Britannica

With no great attempt at explicit atonement, the peoples of Germany and Austria have shown that they are willing to heed the past in a way that their neighbours' governments seem incapable of.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Peter the Great attempted to modernize Russia and imposed a tax on beards in 1698.

Britannica

There have been some great attempts - check out this fantastic Twitter map from Hannah Waldram and this attempt by James Cridland to collect verified events.

The Guardian

The question how the study of philosophy may be so ordered as not to be the ruin of the State: All great attempts are attended with risk; 'hard is the good,' as men say.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The enemy surrounded on all sides, [and] all their affairs being despaired of, made great attempts to cast themselves down over the ramparts and to seek safety in flight.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

To remove the bisphenol A (BPA) effectively from groundwater great attempts made in the current work to optimize the operating parameters of electrochemical peroxidation (ECP) process using response surface methodology (RS M based on central composite design (CCD).

Journal of Molecular Liquids

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "great attempt" when you want to acknowledge the effort and ambition behind an action, even if it didn't fully succeed. This conveys encouragement and appreciation for the initiative taken.

Common error

Avoid using "great attempt" as a consolation when the effort was clearly lacking or the result was completely inadequate. It's better to offer constructive criticism or acknowledge the need for improvement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "great attempt" functions as an adjective-noun construction, where "great" modifies the noun "attempt." It signifies an action undertaken with considerable effort or ambition. As noted by Ludwig, it is a correct and usable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "great attempt" is a common and grammatically correct way to acknowledge effort and ambition, even when the outcome isn't perfect. As Ludwig AI indicates, it serves to express admiration or appreciation for someone's efforts. While generally neutral, its usage varies across contexts, being most frequent in news media and scientific discourse. It’s important to remember that while recognizing a "great attempt" is encouraging, it shouldn't excuse a complete lack of effort or inadequate results; constructive feedback remains crucial for improvement. Several alternatives, such as "valiant effort" or "commendable effort", can be used to convey similar sentiments with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

valiant effort

Emphasizes the courage and determination behind the effort.

commendable effort

Highlights the praiseworthy nature of the effort.

significant endeavor

Focuses on the importance and scale of the undertaking.

notable undertaking

Stresses the remarkable or worthy nature of the endeavor.

ambitious undertaking

Highlights the challenging and aspirational nature of the attempt.

spirited effort

Implies enthusiasm and vigor in the attempt.

determined effort

Focuses on the resolute and unwavering nature of the attempt.

earnest try

Emphasizes the sincerity and seriousness of the attempt.

bold initiative

Highlights the courageous and innovative nature of the attempt.

heroic effort

Highlights the extraordinary and selfless nature of the attempt.

FAQs

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

You can use "great attempt" to acknowledge someone's effort, even if they didn't succeed, for example: "That was a "great attempt" at solving the problem, but let's try a different approach."

What are some alternatives to saying "great attempt"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "valiant effort", "commendable effort", or "significant endeavor".

When is it appropriate to use "great attempt"?

It's appropriate to use "great attempt" when you want to acknowledge someone's effort and positive intention, even if the outcome wasn't successful. It's a good way to encourage them to keep trying.

Is "good attempt" or "great attempt" better?

Both "good attempt" and "great attempt" are acceptable, but "great attempt" implies a higher degree of effort, ambition, or skill. The choice depends on the specific context and the level of praise you want to convey.