make a serious effort

USAGE SUMMARY

"make a serious effort" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to put in a determined and earnest attempt at something. Examples: 1. She knew that passing the exam would require her to make a serious effort in studying every day. 2. The company asked all employees to make a serious effort in reducing their use of plastic in the office. 3. I could tell that he had made a serious effort to improve his public speaking skills, as his presentation was confident and well-prepared. 4. The team made a serious effort to come up with innovative ideas for the project, resulting in a successful and unique outcome. 5. Despite facing numerous challenges, she continued to make a serious effort to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Make a serious effort?

The New York Times

Would you brush it off or would you make a serious effort to prove that your work is your own?

The Economist

For eight minutes, he explained how he believes the United States must make a serious effort to secure its borders.

The New York Times

Neither major British party is really willing to learn from it, and make a serious effort to really tackle inequality.

The Guardian - Opinion

Nevertheless, Javaid decided that the organization ought to make a serious effort to measure and improve fan satisfaction.

The New Yorker

Democrats and many Republicans say they will make a serious effort to overhaul the health care system in 2009.

The New York Times

The answer is to do what every other advanced country does, and make a serious effort to rein in health care costs.

The New York Times

Congress now needs to devise a real fix that would be fair to doctors and make a serious effort to slow the rise of Medicare spending.

The New York Times

But Senator Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, said he would "insist that Congress make a serious effort to offset a good portion of any new spending".

The New York Times

What the Paris victims, if they could speak, might ask us, is to make a serious effort to explain why last Friday night's outrage took place.

The Guardian - Opinion

And Israel's foreign minister, Shlomo Ben-Ami said today that Israel, too, is willing to negotiate if the Palestinians make a serious effort to quell the violence.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make a serious effort", ensure the context clearly indicates the goal or objective of the effort. This provides clarity and purpose to the action.

Common error

Avoid using "make a serious effort" without specifying what the effort is directed towards. For example, instead of saying "They made a serious effort", specify "They made a serious effort to improve their customer service."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a serious effort" functions as a verb phrase that emphasizes the intensity and deliberateness of an action. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academic

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make a serious effort" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to convey a determined and earnest attempt at something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity through numerous examples across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it's suitable for neutral to professional settings. When using this phrase, it's best to clearly specify the objective of the effort to avoid vagueness. Related phrases like "try earnestly" or "dedicate oneself fully" can offer nuanced alternatives. Ludwig's analysis underscores its consistent usage and clear communicative purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make a determined attempt

Highlights the resolute nature of the effort.

dedicate oneself fully

Stresses the total commitment of one's time and energy.

give it your all

Suggests a complete and unrestrained effort.

try earnestly

Focuses on the sincerity and dedication of the attempt.

strive diligently

Emphasizes the persistent and careful nature of the effort.

endeavor wholeheartedly

Highlights the complete and enthusiastic commitment to the task.

apply oneself assiduously

Implies a consistent and attentive approach to the task.

exert considerable energy

Focuses on the amount of effort expended.

invest significant time

Highlights the temporal aspect of the commitment.

commit substantial resources

Emphasizes the allocation of assets to the task.

FAQs

How can I use "make a serious effort" in a sentence?

You can use "make a serious effort" to describe a determined and earnest attempt at something. For example, "The team will "make a serious effort" to meet the project deadline."

What can I say instead of "make a serious effort"?

You can use alternatives like "try earnestly", "strive diligently", or "dedicate oneself fully" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "make a serious effort" or "try hard"?

"Make a serious effort" suggests a more structured and determined approach, while "try hard" is more general. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What's the difference between "make a serious effort" and "do your best"?

"Make a serious effort" implies a deliberate and focused attempt, while "do your best" suggests giving whatever effort one is capable of, without necessarily implying focused planning or strategy.