his attempts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "his attempts" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the efforts or endeavors made by a male individual in various contexts, such as trying to achieve a goal or complete a task. Example: "Despite his attempts to solve the problem, he found himself at a standstill."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The villagers ignored his attempts to communicate.

The New Yorker

His attempts to open the door failed.

The New Yorker

Shane Battier missed all three of his attempts.

The New York Times - Sports

She ignores his attempts to elicit sympathy.

The New Yorker

He made 78percentt of his attempts.

The New York Times - Sports

But even his attempts at mediation have failed.

The Economist

And yet his attempts to quit failed spectacularly.

The New Yorker

Death played havoc with his attempts to do so.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One of his attempts at propaganda remained standing.

The New York Times

Undeterred, Kabila continued in his attempts to unify the country.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His attempts at sincerity come across as precious and phony.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "his attempts" to clearly and concisely refer to the efforts made by a male individual, especially when detailing repeated or varied efforts towards a goal.

Common error

In formal writing, avoid overuse of "his attempts". Consider using more nuanced alternatives like "his endeavors" or "his efforts to achieve" for greater precision and stylistic variation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "his attempts" functions as a noun phrase, where 'his' is a possessive pronoun modifying the noun 'attempts.' It serves to denote the efforts or endeavors made by a male individual, as illustrated by Ludwig examples showing various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

17%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "his attempts" is a grammatically sound and common expression used to refer to the endeavors of a male individual. According to Ludwig, it is widely found across various domains, especially in news and media. While suitable for both formal and informal writing, considering nuanced alternatives may enhance the style of formal contexts. This phrase is versatile and effectively communicates the efforts made by someone in pursuit of a specific goal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

his efforts

Replaces "attempts" with "efforts", a direct synonym with a slightly more general connotation.

his endeavors

Substitutes "attempts" with "endeavors", suggesting a more formal and purposeful undertaking.

his tries

Replaces "attempts" with the simpler word "tries", making the phrase less formal.

his efforts to

Adds "to" to specifically denote an action being attempted

his try

Similar to "his tries" but singular, suggesting a single effort.

his goal

Replaces the focus from the act of trying to the desired outcome.

his purpose

Shift focus to the reason behind the actions, rather than the actions themselves.

his aim

Replaces "attempts" with "aim", which can refer either to the act of aiming or the target.

his seeking

Focuses on the act of searching or striving towards something.

his search

Emphasizes the exploratory nature of the actions taken.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "his attempts"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "his efforts", "his endeavors", or "his tries". For example, instead of "his attempts to quit failed spectacularly", you could say "his efforts to quit failed spectacularly.

Is "his attempts" formal or informal?

"His attempts" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for more formal writing, consider alternatives such as "his endeavors".

How can I use "his attempts" in a sentence?

You can use "his attempts" to describe someone's actions toward achieving a goal. For instance, "His attempts to communicate were ignored" or "His attempts to open the door failed."

What's the difference between "his attempts" and "his efforts"?

While both "his attempts" and "his efforts" refer to actions taken, "attempts" often implies a trial or experiment, whereas "efforts" suggests more sustained and dedicated work. The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.