he attempts to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he attempts to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone's effort or endeavor to do something. Example: "He attempts to solve the complex equation every night before bed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He attempts to order.

The New Yorker

He attempts to count the eyelashes.

The New Yorker

He attempts to embellish fiction with fact.

The New Yorker

He attempts to style us.

The Guardian - Music

He attempts to establish this intentionally, through deception.

Nature

He attempts to soothe when he should scratch.

The New York Times

He attempts to be friendly, but Julien is wary.

The New York Times

And now he attempts to describe the unnamable: "This.

The New York Times - Books

He attempts to get a cross in, but is foiled.

The Guardian - Sport

We wish him well as he attempts to do so".

The Guardian

A moment later he attempts to sqaure it for a third time and wins a corner.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he attempts to" when you want to emphasize the effort being made, regardless of the outcome. It's particularly effective when describing a struggle or a deliberate action.

Common error

Avoid using "he attempts to" in casual conversation or informal writing where simpler alternatives like "he tries to" would be more appropriate. Consider your audience and the tone you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he attempts to" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating an action that someone is trying to perform. It is composed of a subject pronoun and a verb denoting effort. According to Ludwig, this is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he attempts to" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression that describes someone's effort to perform an action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While versatile, it's slightly more formal than alternatives like "he tries to". It is frequently found in news media and encyclopedic contexts, indicating a neutral register. Remember to consider your audience and context when choosing between this phrase and its alternatives. Use it when emphasizing the effort made by someone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he tries to

Expresses a similar meaning with a more common and informal word.

he is trying to

Presents the action as ongoing.

he endeavors to

Indicates a serious or determined effort, slightly more formal.

he makes an effort to

Highlights the conscious exertion of effort.

he sets out to

Emphasizes the initiation of an action.

he aims to

Suggests a goal or objective, focusing on the intention.

he seeks to

Implies a more purposeful or strategic effort.

he undertakes to

Signifies a formal commitment or responsibility.

he strives to

Highlights the effort and struggle involved.

he is inclined to

Suggests a natural tendency or predisposition towards something.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "he attempts to"?

You can use alternatives like "he tries to", "he endeavors to", or "he aims to" depending on the context.

How to use "he attempts to" in a sentence?

Use "he attempts to" when describing someone making an effort to achieve something, like "He attempts to solve the problem every day".

Which is correct, "he attempts to" or "he attempts at"?

"He attempts to" is the correct phrasing. "He attempts at" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "he attempts to" and "he tries to"?

"He attempts to" is slightly more formal than "he tries to", suggesting a more deliberate or significant effort.