make an effort to play

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make an effort to play" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when encouraging someone to try to engage in a game or activity, emphasizing the importance of participation. Example: "Even if you're busy, I hope you can make an effort to play with us this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"He's going to make an effort to play again this year".

The New York Times

Some of the time, I hear about a game and I actively make an effort to play it, to get under its surface systems, to understand what makes it tick.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Cristiano made an effort to play.

BBC

Co-writer Co-writer Howard Gordonhe episaid, "Alex [Gansa] and I made an effoftheo play to our own strepisodewhich is chAlexter.

Wikipedia

The Council has its role to play, Parliament has its role, and the Commission is making an effort to play its part too.

EU Parlament

Or better yet, why not make an effort to actually play a sport and get in shape.

Vice

For example, if you praise your child for his or her courage in taking on a lead role in the school play, but then don't even make an effort to actually see the play, you've shown that you don't value your child as much as you say you do.

WikiHow

"They were polite, upbeat and seemed to make an effort to cheer even when good plays didn't work," Professor Studenmund said.

The New York Times

If you are unable to do these steps or are playing mechanically, make an effort to contest each pot, to the best of your ability, or end the session.

WikiHow

Yet unlike his fellow ex-Bullingdon men and Tory patricians, Cameron and London mayor Boris Johnson, Osborne does not make a consistent effort to play down his privilege or make it endearing.

The Guardian

"The guys do have a certain level of pride now in limiting scoring chances and guys make a conscientious effort to play sound defensive hockey.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When encouraging someone to participate, use "make an effort to play" to emphasize the value of their participation, even if they are not highly skilled.

Common error

Avoid using "make an effort to play" when the focus is solely on winning or achieving a specific result, rather than the act of participating.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make an effort to play" functions as a verb phrase indicating an attempt or intention to participate in a game, sport, or other activity. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is both correct and appropriate for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make an effort to play" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that encourages participation or highlights the attempt to engage in an activity. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English. It's found primarily in news and media, as well as general online content. While alternatives like "try to participate" or "put in the effort to play" exist, "make an effort to play" effectively emphasizes the intention and dedication involved in participating, and the sources are generally reliable which leads to a positive expert rating. Use the phrase to encourage others to join in activities, highlighting the value of participation over pure skill.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make an attempt to play

Similar to 'attempt to play' but with more emphasis.

put in the effort to play

Emphasizes the investment of effort more explicitly.

try to participate

Focuses on the act of taking part, omitting the explicit mention of effort.

strive to play

Emphasizes the exertion of energy towards playing.

endeavor to play

A more formal way of saying 'try hard to play'.

attempt to play

Highlights the act of trying, without necessarily implying success.

take steps to play

Focuses on the actions taken to enable playing.

make a point of playing

Indicates a deliberate decision to play.

aim to participate

Focuses on the goal of taking part, removing direct reference to play or effort.

work towards playing

Suggests ongoing effort and progress in order to be able to play.

FAQs

How can I use "make an effort to play" in a sentence?

You can use "make an effort to play" to suggest someone tries to participate in a game or activity, as in, "Even if you're busy, please "make an effort to play" with us this weekend".

What can I say instead of "make an effort to play"?

You can use alternatives like "try to participate", "strive to play", or "put in the effort to play" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "make an effort to play" or "try to play"?

"Make an effort to play" emphasizes the dedication and intention, while "try to play" is a more general suggestion. The best choice depends on the specific context and the level of encouragement you want to convey.

What is the difference between "make an effort to play" and "play"?

"Play" simply indicates participation, whereas ""make an effort to play"" implies a conscious attempt to engage and participate, possibly despite challenges or lack of interest.