in an effort to

USAGE SUMMARY

"in an effort to" is a perfectly acceptable phrase to use in written English.
You can use it to mean "trying to" or "for the purpose of". For example: In an effort to save money, I switched to a cheaper energy provider.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In an effort to remain there, they gorged more.

The Economist

Lesbians are raped in an effort to "correct" their sexuality.

The Economist

"He did that in an effort to move this along.

The New York Times

Millburn is now involved in an effort to reinvent itself.

The New York Times

In an effort to be polite and neighborly, we oblige.

The New York Times

In an effort to change, he turned to church restoration.

The New York Times - Arts

— in an effort to predict the future of state government.

The New York Times

NO IRS," in an effort to encourage participation.

The Washington Post

In an effort to promote understanding, we will annotate it.

The Washington Post

in an effort to persuade Mr. Trie to return.

The New York Times

In an effort to win, in an effort to move a Democrat down the road towards the White House, the candidate must not be diverted.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in an effort to" to clearly state the purpose behind an action or decision. This helps readers understand the motivation and context behind your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "in an effort to" excessively, as it can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives such as "to", "in order to", or "so as to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in an effort to" functions as an adverbial phrase of purpose, indicating the reason or intention behind an action. Ludwig examples show its prevalent use across various domains to introduce the goal one is trying to achieve.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

59%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in an effort to" is a very common phrase used to express the purpose behind an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. While effective for clarity, it’s essential to avoid overuse and consider simpler alternatives like "in order to" or "so as to" for better readability. The phrase's neutrality makes it suitable for formal and informal communication, but mindful application enhances writing quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with the aim of

Replaces "in an effort" with "with the aim", focusing on the intended goal.

in order to

A more concise and common way of expressing purpose.

so as to

A slightly more formal alternative to "in order to".

for the purpose of

Emphasizes the intended objective or reason.

with the intention of

Highlights the deliberate intent behind an action.

seeking to

Focuses on the act of trying to achieve something.

trying to

A simpler and more direct way of stating intent.

as a means of

Indicates that something is being used as a way to achieve a goal.

striving to

Implies a more determined and vigorous effort.

endeavoring to

A more formal and less common way of saying "trying to".

FAQs

How can I use "in an effort to" in a sentence?

Use "in an effort to" to introduce the reason or goal behind an action. For example, "In an effort to improve sales, the company launched a new marketing campaign."

What phrases are similar to "in an effort to"?

Similar phrases include "in order to", "so as to", and "with the aim of". Each expresses a similar sense of purpose or intention.

Is there a difference between "in an effort to" and "in order to"?

Both phrases indicate purpose, but "in an effort to" suggests a more active and deliberate attempt to achieve something, while "in order to" is a more general expression of purpose.

When is it best to use "in an effort to" instead of other alternatives?

Use "in an effort to" when you want to emphasize the intentionality and exertion involved in trying to achieve a specific outcome. It is suitable when describing proactive steps taken to address a problem or reach a goal.