ill attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

"ill attempt" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone will try or make an effort to do something, but there is a possibility of failure or difficulty. Example: Despite his injury, John said he will ill attempt the high jump in the competition tomorrow.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Perhaps something about being worried that one ill attempt would leave me with a large purple bump on my forehead that no amount of my favorite Clinique concealer could tackle, if not worse.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

During an ill advised attempt at self improvement I bought a membership to a box gym.

Vice

As well, this environment provide opportunities for the provider to be sensitized to the social circumstances under which patients became ill and attempt to self-manage [ 33, 34].

BMC Health Services Research

Its ill-fated attempt to expand in Eastern Europe has cost Bavarian taxpayers 3.7 billion euros ($5.4 billion).

The New York Times

Administratively, this would be simpler than Bill Clinton's ill-fated attempt to expand medical coverage.

The Economist

After one ill-fated attempt, he quit seeking advice from the Senate.

The New York Times - Books

It drew a parallel with NatWest's ill-fated attempt at an insurance takeover in 1999.

The Economist

She called the remarks part of an ill-conceived attempt to please various government constituencies.

The New York Times

Maybe because it was his one ill-fated attempt to initiate a contest of literary wits.

The New York Times - Books

It has expanded into Asia and Europe, but shut an ill-fated attempt to conquer the US.

The Guardian - Business

An ill-fated attempt to blackmail his wife's lover leads to ruinous calamities.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ill attempt", ensure the context clearly indicates the attempt is likely to face difficulties or is not well-advised. This emphasizes the challenge or potential failure associated with the action.

Common error

Avoid using "ill attempt" when you simply mean a general attempt without a foreseeable negative outcome. Stick to "attempt" or "try" if you are not highlighting potential problems or failures.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ill attempt" functions as a noun phrase where "ill" modifies the noun "attempt". It describes an effort or endeavor that is likely to be unsuccessful or faces significant challenges. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ill attempt" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes an effort likely to face difficulties or destined for failure. Though its frequency is rare, Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it serves to convey a negative prognosis for a particular endeavor. When employing "ill attempt", ensure the context reflects this anticipated difficulty, and consider alternatives like "futile effort" or "doomed effort" to achieve the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ill-fated effort

Uses "effort" instead of "attempt", keeping the sense of impending doom.

vain attempt

Similar to "futile effort", emphasizing the lack of result.

unsuccessful endeavor

Replaces "attempt" with a synonym emphasizing the failure of the effort.

unfortunate bid

Replaces "attempt" with "bid", and "ill" with "unfortunate", emphasizing the negative outcome.

futile effort

Focuses on the pointlessness of the attempt.

doomed effort

Replaces "ill" with "doomed", stressing the inevitable failure.

flawed endeavor

Indicates that the attempt was imperfect from the beginning.

misguided attempt

Highlights the poor judgment behind the attempt, rather than just its likelihood of failure.

unwise undertaking

Suggests the attempt was not a good idea.

problematic try

Replaces "attempt" with "try", and "ill" with "problematic".

FAQs

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

You can use "ill attempt" to describe an action that is likely to fail or is poorly planned. For example: "His "ill-fated attempt" to climb the mountain ended in rescue."

What's the difference between "ill attempt" and "poor attempt"?

"Ill attempt" suggests the attempt is likely doomed from the start or faces significant challenges, whereas "poor attempt" indicates a low-quality effort. An "ill attempt" may be well-executed but destined for failure, a "poor attempt" is simply badly done.

What can I say instead of "ill attempt"?

You can use alternatives like "futile effort", "doomed effort", or "misguided attempt" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "ill attempt" formal or informal?

The phrase "ill attempt" is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it appears more frequently in news and media reports than in casual conversation. Alternatives like "unsuccessful endeavor" might be more appropriate for highly formal settings.