major effort

USAGE SUMMARY

"major effort" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe great or significant amounts of hard work that have been put into an activity or project. For example, "It took a major effort to finish the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Their first major effort, Cannibal!

The Guardian

But it had been a major effort.

The Guardian

This will be a major effort.

Princeton University

But surely, I said, that has been her major effort.

The New Yorker

Still, there was no major effort to hire linguists.

The New York Times

And so I really made a major effort on that.

The Washington Post

Our major effort, though, must be to help the very young.

The New York Times

After World War II, Europe made a major effort to democratize its education systems.

The New York Times

JAPAN seems to be preparing to embark on a major effort to right its economic ship.

The Economist

But yeah, in terms of legislative achievement, it was a major effort.

The New York Times

But this is the industry's first major effort to solve the transformer problem.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "major effort" to clearly communicate that a task requires significant resources, time, and dedication. This helps set expectations and highlights the importance of the undertaking.

Common error

While "major effort" is a valid phrase, overuse can make writing sound stilted. In informal contexts, consider alternatives like "big push", "hard work", or simply describing the specific actions taken to achieve a goal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "major effort" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. According to Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable phrase, indicating its acceptance in standard English. Examples from Ludwig show its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

24%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "major effort" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression that signifies a substantial undertaking requiring significant resources and dedication. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted in written English and appears across diverse contexts, including news, science, and academia. While versatile, writers should be mindful of potential overuse in informal settings, opting for more casual alternatives when appropriate. The phrase's prevalence in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability and widespread understanding. Remember to use "major effort" to highlight the importance and scale of the work involved in a project or task.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant endeavor

Replaces "effort" with "endeavor" and "major" with "significant", emphasizing the ambitious nature of the undertaking.

considerable exertion

Focuses on the energy expended, using "exertion" instead of "effort" and "considerable" instead of "major".

substantial undertaking

Highlights the scale and importance of the activity, substituting "effort" with "undertaking" and "major" with "substantial".

intensive campaign

Implies a focused and organized approach, particularly suited for initiatives with specific goals.

serious attempt

Emphasizes the determination and intent behind the action, using "attempt" to replace "effort" and "serious" for "major".

strenuous attempt

This alternative emphasizes the difficulty and energy required in the attempt.

concerted action

Suggests a coordinated and collaborative approach, highlighting the unified nature of the effort.

determined push

Conveys a sense of forceful action and resolve, suitable for situations requiring overcoming resistance.

vigorous attempt

Suggests energy and enthusiasm were key ingredients to achieve the goal.

ambitious initiative

Focuses on the novelty and scope of the activity, using "initiative" to denote a new and significant undertaking.

FAQs

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

You can use "major effort" to describe any task or project that requires considerable resources and dedication. For example: "It took a "major effort" to complete the project on time."

What are some alternatives to "major effort"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "significant endeavor", "considerable exertion", or "substantial undertaking".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "major effort"?

The phrase "major effort" is appropriate when you want to emphasize the amount of work, resources, or dedication required for a task or project. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though alternatives might be preferred in very casual settings.

Is there a difference between "major effort" and "minor effort"?

Yes, "major effort" implies a significant investment of time, resources, and energy, while "minor effort" suggests only a small amount of work is needed. They represent opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of the scale and difficulty of a task.