made a great effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made a great effort" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who has put in significant work or determination towards achieving a goal or completing a task. Example: "She made a great effort to improve her skills in mathematics, attending extra classes and studying late into the night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

We've seen a lot already and made a great effort to get here.

The New York Times

We have made a great effort to break the political deadlock in Libya.

The Economist

"But Xi Jinping made a great effort not to create a war of words".

The New Yorker

We've made a great effort to make it as legible as possible".

The Guardian

"We made a great effort against a major squad and we justified our presence here," Charisteas said.

The New York Times - Sports

Sadly, even having made a great effort, the reader finishes with no real idea of the writer's message.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Since the agreement on Thursday, the Israelis and Palestinians have made a greater effort to cooperate.

The New York Times

The Yankees apparently made a greater effort to gain another chance than the Indians.

The New York Times - Sports

Educators have made a greater effort to direct students to the home pages of Island businesses, she said.

The New York Times

"It's hard to argue any mayor in history has made a greater effort to improve the M.T.A.," he said.

The New York Times

But, Mr. Menendez said, Democrats would match that enthusiasm now that the party has made a greater effort to draw distinctions between the two candidates.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "made a great effort" to acknowledge someone's hard work and dedication, especially when the outcome may not be fully successful. It highlights the value of the attempt itself.

Common error

While acceptable, "made a great effort" can sound slightly informal in highly professional or academic writing. Consider alternatives like "exerted considerable effort" or "invested significant resources" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made a great effort" functions as a verb phrase used to describe the action of attempting something with considerable dedication and energy. It is commonly used to acknowledge someone's hard work, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "made a great effort" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that someone has worked hard towards a goal. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability across various contexts, although it can sometimes sound slightly informal in very formal writing. Its primary function is to acknowledge and appreciate dedication, and it appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts. While alternatives like "tried one's best" or "exerted considerable energy" exist, "made a great effort" remains a versatile and widely understood expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tried one's best

Focuses on the attempt and intention, rather than the scale of effort.

put in a lot of work

Emphasizes the amount of labor invested.

went the extra mile

Suggests exceeding expectations and putting in more effort than required.

strove mightily

Implies a strong and determined struggle.

exerted considerable energy

Highlights the energy and resources expended.

gave it one's all

Indicates a complete dedication of resources and energy.

labored diligently

Focuses on consistent and careful work.

devoted oneself wholeheartedly

Shows a deep commitment and emotional investment.

applied oneself assiduously

Suggests persistent and focused effort.

worked tirelessly

Emphasizes continuous and relentless effort without rest.

FAQs

What does "made a great effort" mean?

The phrase "made a great effort" means that someone tried very hard to achieve something, putting in significant work and dedication.

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

You can use "made a great effort" to describe someone who has worked hard towards a goal. For example, "The team "made a great effort" to win the game, but they were defeated".

What are some alternatives to "made a great effort"?

Alternatives to "made a great effort" include "tried one's best", "put in a lot of work", or "went the extra mile", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Both "made a great effort" and "made a significant effort" are correct. "Significant effort" might sound slightly more formal, while "great effort" is more commonly used in everyday conversation.