make best effort

USAGE SUMMARY

"make best effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to suggest that someone should do their best in a certain situation. For example: "Please make your best effort to finish the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

When they promise to make best effort to get headquarters to be responsive, however, and then fail, local attitudes toward both the community engagement team and the parent company are likely to sour immediately.

Harvard University

· Mentors shall make best effort to keep the relevant Duke program coordinator informed of the status of their mentoring relationship and any changes in that relationship.

Duke University

Between the lines of his long letter to GE Chairman Welch, Honeywell Chairman Bonsignore has attempted to set up the case that GE failed to make best effort to achieve agreement with European Union antitrust boss Mario Monti Mario Monti.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The United States has committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28 percent below the 2005 level in 2025, and to make "best efforts" to reduce emissions by 28percentt.

Columbia University

Failing to make best efforts to steer R&D away from potential infringement problems could be seen as the intellectual property equivalent of negligently building your factory atop a seismic fault.

Harvard Business Review

We make best efforts to only flag spam email, but users can also help us learn by clicking the "Report spam" and "Not spam" buttons".

TechCrunch

According to the docs, Yahoo! has agreed to make best efforts to launch the Ad Placement Option as early as the first quarter of 2010, but in no event later than September 30, 2010.

TechCrunch

According to the rumors running around the corporate chalets at the recent Paris Air Show, GE could be faced with a bill to compensate Honeywell for well more than $1 billion (some said as much as $1.5 billion) for failing to make best efforts.

Forbes

What China has pledged: China has committed to peak its CO2 emissions by 2030 and to make best efforts to peak earlier.

Huffington Post

Importantly, mere accidents are not criminalized, and to underscore this, it is clearly stated that anyone who is well-meaning and make best efforts to comply with good manufacturing practices commits no crime (Box 1).

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

The first two objectives pursue the efficiency goal, whereas the third pursue fairness – making best effort to ensure relief commodity delivery to all demand points.

Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make best effort", ensure the context clearly defines what constitutes the 'best' possible outcome. This prevents ambiguity and sets realistic expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "make best effort" as a substitute for concrete action or resource allocation. Simply stating the intention without providing the necessary tools or support can lead to disillusionment and a perception of insincerity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make best effort" functions as a commitment phrase, indicating an intention to perform to the highest standard. It is typically used to assure stakeholders that one will strive to achieve the best possible outcome, even if success isn't guaranteed. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "make best effort" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While relatively uncommon, it effectively conveys a commitment to striving for optimal results. Its usage spans across news, academic, and scientific domains, making it suitable for various contexts. To ensure clarity, always define what 'best' entails within the specific situation. Alternatives like "try one's hardest" or "do one's best" can be considered for nuanced expression. When employing this phrase, avoid making unsubstantiated promises without backing them up with tangible actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

try one's hardest

Replaces "make best effort" with a more direct expression of maximum effort.

do one's best

Similar to the query, but uses the verb "do" instead of "make".

give it one's all

Uses an idiomatic expression to emphasize complete dedication.

exert oneself fully

More formal, emphasizing the exertion of effort.

strive to the utmost

Highlights striving and achieving the highest degree of effort.

go the extra mile

Implies exceeding expectations and putting in additional effort.

put one's heart and soul into it

Emphasizes emotional investment and passion in the effort.

leave no stone unturned

Suggests thoroughness and a comprehensive approach to effort.

bend over backwards

Indicates extreme effort and willingness to accommodate.

spare no effort

Emphasizes the absence of limitations in the effort applied.

FAQs

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

You can use "make best effort" to express commitment to achieving a goal, as in, "We will "make best effort" to complete the project on time."

What's the difference between "make an effort" and "make best effort"?

"Make an effort" implies a general attempt, while ""make best effort"" suggests striving for the highest possible outcome within one's capabilities.

What are some alternatives to "make best effort"?

Alternatives include "try one's hardest", "do one's best", or "give it one's all", depending on the context and desired emphasis.

Is it appropriate to use "make best effort" in formal communication?

Yes, ""make best effort"" is appropriate in formal communication, but ensure that the context provides sufficient clarity about what constitutes 'best' to avoid ambiguity.