made much effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made much effort" is not correct in standard written English.
A more appropriate expression would be "made a lot of effort" or "put in a lot of effort." Example: "She made a lot of effort to complete the project on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The army has not made much effort to stop them.

The Economist

Reed never made much effort to conceal his sympathies.

The Guardian - Books

I felt that neither candidate made much effort to stand on his own merits".

The New York Times

Microsoft hasn't made much effort to match the iPod's universe of functions.

The New York Times - Tech

Until recently, however, few people made much effort to get children this age to think hard about money.

The New York Times

A decade ago, few fashion and beauty companies made much effort to align themselves with social activism.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

After the People's Republic of China (PRC) established in 1949, central planners have made much efforts to greening the capital city, Beijing.

Journal of Cleaner Production

But neither Congress nor the rule-writers in federal agencies make much effort to weigh costs against benefits.

The Economist

He launched the attacks from public WiFi networks, using his personal laptop, without making much effort to cover his tracks.

The New Yorker

I'm a sucker for historical fiction, not least because you learn lots without having to make much effort.

Independent

Unfortunately, the accounting systems used in climate diplomacy are cumbersome and offer relatively few incentives for countries to make much effort to control methane.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer "made a lot of effort" or "put in a lot of effort" for clearer and grammatically correct communication. For instance, instead of "He "made much effort" to complete the project", use "He put in a lot of effort to complete the project".

Common error

Avoid using "much" with countable nouns like "effort". "Much" is typically used with uncountable nouns. Using "a lot of" makes the sentence grammatically sound.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made much effort" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the action of applying a significant amount of work or energy towards a goal. While Ludwig provides examples of its usage, it's important to note that this phrasing is often considered grammatically incorrect in standard English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "made much effort" appears in a variety of sources, including news and scientific publications, it is often considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig's analysis suggests opting for alternatives like "made a lot of effort" or "put in a lot of effort" for greater clarity and correctness. The most frequent contexts include News & Media and Science, but writers should exercise caution and consider the formality of the situation. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not correct in standard written English, reinforcing the recommendation to use alternative phrasings in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Made a considerable effort

Emphasizes the significance of the effort exerted.

Made a substantial effort

Highlights the magnitude of the effort.

Put in a lot of effort

Uses a more colloquial expression to convey the effort invested.

Made a great effort

Highlights the intensity of the effort.

Exerted significant effort

More formal, emphasizing the energy expended.

Made significant strides

Focuses on progress made through effort.

Devoted considerable energy

Highlights the energy dedicated to something.

Invested significant time

Highlights the time dedicated to something.

Poured a lot of energy

Expresses the energy dedicated to something using strong imagery.

Committed substantial resources

Focuses on the resources invested.

FAQs

Is "made much effort" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "made much effort" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. A more appropriate phrasing would be "made a lot of effort" or "put in a lot of effort".

What are some alternatives to "made much effort"?

Alternatives to "made much effort" include "made a considerable effort", "exerted significant effort", or "put in a lot of effort".

How can I use "effort" correctly in a sentence?

When using "effort", pair it with quantifiers like "a lot of", "considerable", or "significant" for better grammatical accuracy. For example, "She "made a significant effort" to improve her grades".

What's the difference between "made much effort" and "made a lot of effort"?

"Made much effort" is not considered standard English. "Made a lot of effort" is the correct and more common way to express that someone has put in substantial work or attempt towards something.