made an attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

"made an attempt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a situation in which someone took an action, even though the outcome of that action was ultimately unsuccessful. For example, "The climbers made an attempt to reach the summit, but harsh weather conditions prevented them from succeeding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Cameron made an attempt at this.

Independent

Trump made an attempt at chivalry.

The Guardian

Yesterday, Madonna made an attempt at reconciliation.

The Guardian - Music

A quarter of older smokers have already made an attempt.

The New York Times

Chalmers immediately made an attempt to build bridges.

The Guardian - Sport

On a few occasions she made an attempt.

The New York Times - Books

The Nets made an attempt at a third-quarter comeback.

The New York Times - Sports

The duke of Guise made an attempt on the life of Coligny, which failed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

She'd made an attempt to arrange her white hair for the press conference.

The New York Times - Science

And if she has made an attempt to escape Madonna's shadow it is impossible to discern.

The New Yorker

Nick Clegg made an attempt to reassure dissenters in his last party conference speech.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "made an attempt" when you want to emphasize that an effort was made, even if it wasn't successful. It highlights the action taken, regardless of the outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "made an attempt" when a simpler verb like "tried" or "tried to" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made an attempt" functions as a verbal phrase indicating that someone has undertaken an action with a specific goal in mind, regardless of whether they succeeded. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct. The examples provided by Ludwig show its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "made an attempt" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe the action of trying to achieve something, whether successful or not. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is perfectly acceptable in written English. It is most frequently found in news and scientific contexts, with a neutral register suitable for a wide range of writing. While simpler alternatives like "tried" exist, "made an attempt" can emphasize the effort involved. When using this phrase, consider the context and avoid overusing it in situations where a more concise verb would suffice. The phrase's widespread use and clear meaning make it a reliable choice for expressing effort and intention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tried

A more concise way of saying someone made an attempt; implies effort was exerted.

endeavored

A more formal and emphatic way to indicate a serious or determined attempt.

sought

Suggests an active pursuit or effort to achieve something.

took a shot

Implies a less certain or more experimental attempt.

gave it a shot

An informal expression meaning to try something.

had a go

British English equivalent of 'gave it a shot'.

undertook

Suggests a formal or significant undertaking or project.

strove

Implies a sustained and vigorous effort.

set out

Indicates the beginning of an attempt, often with a specific goal.

essayed

A somewhat archaic term suggesting a tentative attempt.

FAQs

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

"Made an attempt" is used to describe an action someone took to achieve something. For instance, "She "made an attempt" to fix the car, but it still wouldn't start."

What's a more concise way to say "made an attempt"?

Instead of "made an attempt", you can use alternatives like "tried", which is shorter and often conveys the same meaning depending on the context.

Is it better to say "made an attempt" or "attempted"?

Both "made an attempt" and "attempted" are correct, but "attempted" is usually more concise. "Made an attempt" can sometimes add emphasis to the effort involved.

When should I use "endeavored" instead of "made an attempt"?

Use "endeavored" when you want to sound more formal and emphasize the seriousness or determination of the effort. "Made an attempt" is more neutral.