has tried

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has tried" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone has made an attempt at something in the past, with relevance to the present. Example: "She has tried multiple times to reach her goals, but she still faces challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Indonesia has tried the latter approach.

The New York Times

He has tried.

The Economist

Judge Boylan has tried.

The New York Times - Sports

Strickland has tried.

The New York Times - Sports

Bart has tried.

Yale University

No one else has tried.

The New York Times - Sports

Actually, Marc Guggenheim has tried.

The New York Times

She has tried out acting.

Independent

Mr Brown has tried harder.

The Economist

He has tried ignoring it.

Independent

"The president has tried.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has tried" to indicate a past effort with present relevance. For example, "The company has tried different marketing strategies, but sales remain low."

Common error

Avoid using "has tried" when referring to an ongoing or habitual action. Instead, use "is trying" or "tries". For instance, instead of "He has tried to call her every day", use "He is trying to call her every day."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has tried" functions as a present perfect verb phrase. It indicates an action that was attempted in the past and has relevance to the present moment. Ludwig confirms this by providing numerous examples across different domains. It is often used to describe efforts made towards a goal or to address a problem.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

17%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

7%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has tried" is a grammatically sound and versatile present perfect verb phrase used to describe past attempts with present implications. Ludwig confirms its correctness and common usage across various domains, particularly in news and academic contexts. To enhance your writing, remember to use "has tried" to link past efforts to present results and consider using synonyms like "attempted to" or "made an effort to" for variety. Avoid using this construction when describing actions still in progress; "is trying" would be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempted to

Focuses on the action of attempting, emphasizing the effort made.

made an effort to

Highlights the exertion of effort towards a specific goal.

sought to

Implies a more formal or determined attempt to achieve something.

endeavored to

Suggests a serious and dedicated attempt, often in a formal setting.

strived to

Emphasizes the effort and struggle involved in the attempt.

gave it a shot

An informal way of saying someone made an attempt.

took a stab at

Suggests a tentative or experimental attempt.

experimented with

Focuses on trying out new methods or approaches.

tackled

Implies confronting a problem or task directly.

addressed

Suggests dealing with a problem or issue.

FAQs

How do I use "has tried" in a sentence?

Use "has tried" to indicate that someone has made an attempt at something in the past. For example, "She "has tried" everything to fix the problem, but nothing seems to work."

What are some alternatives to "has tried"?

You can use alternatives such as "attempted to", "made an effort to", or "sought to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has been trying" instead of "has tried"?

Yes, "has been trying" indicates a continuous effort over time, whereas ""has tried"" suggests a completed attempt. For example, "She "has been trying" to learn Spanish for years" implies ongoing effort, while "She "has tried" to learn Spanish" implies she made an attempt at some point.

What's the difference between "has tried" and "tried"?

"Has tried" connects the past action to the present, often implying a result or current state. "Tried", on the other hand, simply refers to a past action without necessarily implying a connection to the present. For example, "She "has tried" to lose weight, and now she's healthier" versus "She tried to lose weight last year".