has been in vain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been in vain" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express that efforts or attempts have been unsuccessful or without result. Example: "After months of hard work, I realized that all my efforts to change the situation have been in vain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Sport

Books

Religion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

But the wait has been in vain.

The New York Times

Lobbying by Selig and Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, has been in vain.

The New York Times - Sports

Fury, just like Foreman 40 years ago, just might find that his relentless pursuit, which has not always been pleasant, has been in vain.

Independent

With the American war machine gearing up again over the voices of protesters around the world, Ms. Dane does not feel her previous work has been in vain.

The New York Times - Arts

Her severe religious morality will not allow her to accept Jerome's love — though her journals show the reader that she is just as much in love with him as he with her — and on her deathbed she realises that the sacrifice she thought she was making to God, for the sake of both their souls, has been in vain.

The Guardian - Books

Unfortunately, his expectation that the troops will tell America when it's time to leave is misplaced for two reasons: the civilian leadership tells us when to stay and when to go, directing policy that we carry out, and war is intensely personal to the G.I. -- we don't want to leave thinking our service has been in vain.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

"My hopes may have been in vain".

The New York Times

But now it appears to have been in vain.

The New York Times

"Otherwise his life will have been in vain".

The New York Times

"All searches to date have been in vain," he said.

The New York Times

The final appeal appears to have been in vain.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been in vain" to express that a particular effort or endeavor did not produce the desired or expected outcome. It is best used when emphasizing the futility of previous actions despite the efforts made.

Common error

Avoid using "has been in vain" when a situation merely experienced a setback or delay. This phrase is most effective when conveying a complete lack of success, not a temporary hindrance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been in vain" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that an action or effort was unsuccessful or unproductive. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Wiki

7%

Sport

7%

Less common in

Books

7%

Religion

6%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been in vain" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote that an effort has been unsuccessful. As verified by Ludwig AI, this phrase commonly appears in news and media, with a neutral register that makes it suitable for various contexts. While there is risk of overstating simple setbacks, using alternatives like "proved futile" or "was unsuccessful" can offer slightly different shades of meaning. Remember to consider the emphasis and choose the phrase that best fits the situation to convey the intended message effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was fruitless

Emphasizes the lack of any positive outcome or success.

proved futile

Focuses on the lack of result after a certain action.

was all for naught

Emphasizes that everything done amounted to nothing.

came to nothing

Highlights the lack of a positive outcome or achievement.

was to no avail

Emphasizes the absence of any beneficial result despite the effort.

was unsuccessful

States directly that the attempt did not succeed.

was a lost cause

Implies that the attempt was doomed to fail from the beginning.

yielded no results

Highlights the lack of tangible outcomes or measurable achievements.

bore no fruit

Suggests that the effort did not produce any positive results or benefits.

was unproductive

Highlights the lack of useful or valuable output.

FAQs

How can I use "has been in vain" in a sentence?

Use "has been in vain" to indicate that a particular effort or activity has not achieved its intended purpose or produced any positive results. For example, "Despite all our efforts, the negotiation "has been in vain"."

What are some alternatives to "has been in vain"?

You can use alternatives such as "fruitless", "unsuccessful", or "to no avail" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "have been in vain" instead of "has been in vain"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "has been in vain" with singular subjects (e.g., "the effort"), and "have been in vain" with plural subjects (e.g., "our efforts").

What's the difference between "was fruitless" and "has been in vain"?

"Was fruitless" is similar to "has been in vain", but "has been in vain" often carries a stronger sense of disappointment or wasted effort over a longer duration. "Was fruitless" is more general.