in an attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

"in an attempt" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used when you are explaining why someone did something. Example: He flew to the other side of the world in an attempt to escape his past.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An Orthodox priest has arrived in an attempt to mediate.

BBC

In an attempt to alleviate this problem an ICBEN team.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

"This was done in an attempt to prove a concept".

The New York Times

Mayfield sued in an attempt to be reinstated.

The New York Times

Someone wrote that in an attempt to embarrass me.

The New York Times - Magazine

In an attempt to beach the ship off Kéa, Capt.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In an attempt to control malaria, the W.H.O.

The New York Times - Magazine

The move was made in an attempt to cover costs.

The New York Times

In an attempt at damage control, Verizon halted the mailing.

The New York Times

He faked an ankle injury in an attempt to leave.

The New York Times

Valentine has juggled lineups in an attempt to generate runs.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in an attempt" to clearly state the purpose behind an action, ensuring the reader understands the motivation.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "in an attempt". Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms like "to", "intending to", or "with the aim of" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in an attempt" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating purpose. It modifies a verb by explaining the reason or intention behind an action, as shown in Ludwig's examples, such as "Police used tear gas in an attempt to disperse demonstrators."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in an attempt" is a very common and grammatically sound phrase used to express the purpose or motivation behind an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted and applicable across various contexts, although predominantly found in News & Media and Academic writing. While versatile, it's advisable to avoid overuse by incorporating synonyms such as "in order to" or "with the aim of" to maintain writing diversity. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication, enhancing clarity and understanding of intended actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with the purpose of

Directly states the purpose or reason for an action.

with the aim of

Emphasizes the goal or objective more directly.

in order to

A more formal and direct way to express purpose.

with a view to

Implies a forward-looking perspective or long-term goal.

intending to

Highlights the intention or plan behind an action.

seeking to

Focuses on the act of trying to achieve something.

striving to

Suggests a more vigorous effort or struggle towards a goal.

as a means to

Indicates that something is being used as a tool to achieve an end.

to try to

A more basic and straightforward expression of attempting something.

hoping to

Suggests a degree of optimism or uncertainty about the outcome.

FAQs

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

Use "in an attempt" to introduce the reason or purpose behind an action. For example: "She studied diligently "in an attempt" to pass the exam."

What are some alternatives to "in an attempt"?

You can use alternatives such as "in order to", "with the aim of", or "with the purpose of" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "in attempt" instead of "in an attempt"?

No, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is ""in an attempt"" because "attempt" is a countable noun, and the indefinite article "an" is required.

How does "in an attempt" differ from "in order to"?

"In an attempt" emphasizes the act of trying, while "in order to" focuses more on the intended outcome or goal. They are often interchangeable but can subtly shift the emphasis of a sentence.