it was attempted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was attempted" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to express that someone has tried to do something, but did not succeed. Example: The company attempted to reach the sales goal, but failed.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It was attempted to adsorb the target molecule, creatinine, from its mixture solutions.

Biomaterials

"It was attempted murder".

The New York Times

The prosecutors said it was attempted murder.

The New York Times

Yet it was attempted on a huge scale, spreading trepidation and bafflement across the NHS.

The Economist

It was attempted in Ronald Reagan's second term, but little came of it.

The Economist

Presumably, it was attempted in the pre-Euclidean period, although solutions are known only from the 3rd century or later.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It was attempted first-degree assault as a hate crime, the second-highest class of felony -- not attempted second-degree assault, a low-level felony.

The New York Times

Although the chances of such an all-party approach at the current time are vanishingly small, it was attempted as recently as 2010, just before that year's election.

The Guardian

"I felt like the Hernando Police Department came into it predetermined like it was attempted murder, and they had a pretty good little case," Ms. Milam said.

The New York Times

It was attempted to develop and show a tumor PET image with the radiolabeled-peptide.

Biomaterials

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Protein identification using ESI-IT was attempted for all proteins having statistically significant changes in relative protein levels in AQP4−/− quadriceps muscle.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was attempted" to clearly indicate that an action was tried but may not have been successful. This provides transparency about the process and outcomes.

Common error

While "it was attempted" is grammatically sound, overuse of passive voice can make your writing less direct. Consider using active voice when possible to create more engaging and impactful sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was attempted" functions as a passive construction, indicating that an action was the subject of an attempt. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable English phrase. Examples show its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

63%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was attempted" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe an action that was tried, often implying a lack of complete success. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and the provided examples demonstrate its application across diverse contexts such as science, news, and business. While "it was attempted" is appropriate in many situations, it's crucial to be mindful of passive voice and consider active alternatives for more direct and impactful writing. Related phrases like "an attempt was made" or "efforts were made" can offer nuanced variations in meaning and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an attempt was made

This alternative uses a more formal tone and passive voice.

efforts were made

This phrase emphasizes the collective effort involved.

an effort was undertaken

This is a more formal way of saying that an attempt was made.

it was endeavored

This alternative is a more formal and less common synonym.

steps were taken

This indicates specific actions were implemented.

measures were implemented

This suggests that particular measures or strategies were put into action.

the task was undertaken

Focuses on the undertaking of a specific task.

action was initiated

Implies the start of a particular course of action.

a trial was conducted

This is specific to instances where a test or experiment was carried out.

it was proposed

Suggests that something was suggested or put forward for consideration.

FAQs

How can I use "it was attempted" in a sentence?

You can use "it was attempted" to describe an action that someone tried to perform, often implying that the attempt was unsuccessful. For example, "It was attempted to fix the error, but the system crashed anyway".

What's a more formal alternative to "it was attempted"?

A more formal alternative to "it was attempted" is "an attempt was made". This phrasing is suitable for academic or professional writing.

What can I say instead of "it was attempted" to emphasize effort?

To emphasize the effort put into something, you could say "efforts were made" or "an effort was undertaken". These phrases highlight the dedication involved.

Is "it was attempted" the same as "it was tried"?

While similar, "it was attempted" often implies a more formal or deliberate effort than "it was tried". "It was tried" is generally more informal and suggests a simple attempt.