made few efforts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made few efforts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone has not put in a significant amount of effort towards a task or goal. Example: "Despite the importance of the project, she made few efforts to meet the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Italy has made few efforts to integrate the Roma into Italian society.

The New York Times

The evidence against McFarland was very flimsy, but his lawyer made few efforts to challenge it; indeed, he slept through much of the trial.

The New York Times - Books

But she made "few efforts to engage the child in conversation," and did not "re-direct" Inge when she wanted her to stop doing something, or treat exploratory misbehavior as a sign of curiosity rather than defiance.

The New Yorker

She has made few efforts to tackle Brazil's structural problems: its poor infrastructure, high costs, punitive tax system, mountains of red tape and a rigid labour code copied from Mussolini.Instead, she has revived Brazil's corporate state, dishing out favours to insiders, such as tax breaks and subsidised loans from bloated state banks.

The Economist

In spite of the extensive research, however, the research community has made few efforts to guide the direction of innovation, considering the general evolutionary patterns of technical systems.

Expert Systems with Applications

Suleiman had full confidence in his troops and made few efforts to scout the area.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Not only that, but employees in offices with low-level noise made fewer efforts to adjust their workstations, making them more susceptible to problems like repetitive strain injury.

The New York Times - Health

Partners who felt shame tended to avoid negotiation and made fewer efforts to problem solve differences.

Huffington Post

Mostly, the assistants kept in the background in staff interactions, and permanent staff appeared to make few efforts to include them in discussions about the new resident.

BMC Health Services Research

A vicious circle is established where COs find the database incomplete and make few efforts to update the database, with the result that the next version comes out with still more incomplete information.

Unicef

Palestinian suicide bombers have killed and maimed Israelis while Palestinian leaders have made few serious efforts to stop the attacks.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "made few efforts" when you want to specifically highlight a lack of proactivity or initiative. This is particularly useful in critiques or evaluations.

Common error

Avoid using "made few efforts" when the subject demonstrably tried hard but failed. This phrase is better suited to situations where there was a noticeable lack of initiative, not necessarily a lack of success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made few efforts" functions as a descriptive element within a sentence, typically serving to criticize or evaluate a subject's lack of action. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "made few efforts" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to express a lack of significant action or initiative. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it is correct. It's most frequently found in news and scientific contexts, where it serves to critique or evaluate a subject's insufficient dedication to a task or goal. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly establishes the expected level of effort and the implications of not meeting it. Some alternatives are "exerted minimal effort" or "put in little effort".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exerted minimal effort

Highlights the very small amount of effort applied.

put in little effort

Emphasizes the small quantity of effort invested.

offered scant attention

Focuses on the limited attention given to something.

paid little heed

Indicates a lack of attention or consideration.

showed little inclination

Points out a lack of willingness or enthusiasm to act.

demonstrated limited initiative

Highlights a low level of proactivity.

took a passive approach

Indicates a lack of active involvement.

largely neglected

Emphasizes the significant lack of attention or action.

paid lip service

Suggests insincere efforts or mere verbal agreement without action.

did the bare minimum

Implies completing only what is absolutely necessary.

FAQs

How can I use "made few efforts" in a sentence?

You can use "made few efforts" to indicate a lack of significant action or initiative. For example, "The company "made few efforts" to address the environmental concerns raised by the community".

What are some alternatives to "made few efforts"?

Alternatives include "exerted minimal effort", "put in little effort", or "showed little inclination", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "made few efforts" or "made minimal efforts"?

Both "made few efforts" and "made minimal efforts" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to emphasize. "Few" highlights the quantity, while "minimal" emphasizes the degree.

What does it imply when someone "made few efforts"?

It suggests that the person or entity in question did not invest much energy, resources, or attention into a particular task or goal. It often carries a negative connotation, implying negligence or a lack of commitment.