made a big effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made a big effort" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who has put in a significant amount of work or energy into a task or goal. Example: "She made a big effort to improve her grades this semester, studying late into the night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He's made a big effort.

The Economist

We made a big effort, but we needed more points.

The New York Times - Sports

I haven't made a big effort to meet the rest of the building though.

Stanford University

More recently the government has made a big effort to improve rural social services.

The Economist

I think that we made a big effort in the first half, a great effort.

The Guardian - Sport

Beyond the job market, Germany has also made a big effort to improve its education system.

The New York Times

Until recently it would have made a big effort to trump RWE's technical feats.

The Economist

The Firefox browser project has made a big effort to stay simple.

MIT Technology Review

We made a big effort to expand to include other voices.

The Guardian

Luken told me, "The Republicans didn't have an African-American in Congress back then, so they made a big effort.

The New Yorker

In recent years, the city has made a big effort to reduce road-related fatalities, and it has worked.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "made a big effort" to clearly communicate that significant dedication and resources were invested in a particular task or goal.

Common error

While "made a big effort" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Use synonyms like "strived" or "dedicated considerable effort" to add variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made a big effort" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating that someone has exerted considerable energy or dedication towards a particular goal. Ludwig AI states it's usable in written English. The examples show its usage across varied contexts to emphasize the degree of exertion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "made a big effort" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that someone has put significant dedication and energy into a task. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. It's frequently found in news and media but also appears in academic and business settings. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse by incorporating synonyms like "tried hard" or "dedicated considerable effort". This helps maintain writing clarity and avoids repetition. The phrase serves to emphasize the magnitude of the effort exerted, making it clear that the action wasn't just a casual attempt but a serious commitment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

put in a lot of work

Focuses on the quantity of work invested.

tried hard

Focuses on the act of trying with intensity, omitting the magnitude of the effort.

dedicated considerable effort

Highlights the commitment and significant nature of the effort.

worked diligently

Highlights the consistent and careful nature of the work done.

poured energy into

Emphasizes the enthusiastic investment of energy.

pushed oneself

Implies overcoming personal limitations and exerting maximum effort.

strove mightily

Emphasizes the struggle and intensity of the effort, suggesting a significant challenge was overcome.

applied oneself wholeheartedly

Emphasizes the enthusiastic and complete dedication to the task.

went to great lengths

Suggests unusual or extensive measures were taken.

exerted oneself greatly

More formal and emphasizes the personal energy expended.

FAQs

How can I use "made a big effort" in a sentence?

You can use "made a big effort" to describe someone's dedication to a task, such as: "She "made a big effort" to improve her grades."

What can I say instead of "made a big effort"?

You can use alternatives like "tried hard", "worked diligently", or "dedicated considerable effort" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "made a big effort" or "made a great effort"?

Both "made a big effort" and "made a great effort" are acceptable. The choice depends on personal preference as they convey a similar meaning, though "made a great effort" might sound slightly more formal to some.

What's the difference between "made an effort" and "made a big effort"?

"Made an effort" indicates some attempt was made, while ""made a big effort"" suggests a substantial amount of energy and resources were dedicated to the task.