making his best

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making his best" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey the idea of someone doing their utmost or trying their hardest, but it is not a commonly used expression. Example: "He was making his best effort to complete the project on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

You know, I give Clinton credit for making his best effort, but the proposals that Clinton made were never clear.

The Guardian

"Later he became a hero for something he never intended to do when he was making his best work".

The New York Times - Arts

The Dominican crowd had appreciated an entertaining effort by the West Indian tail with local favourite Shane Shillingford making his best Test score of 31 in a 49-run last-wicket stand with Sammy.

Independent

The Chicago rookie Michael Leighton was equally tough in his N.H.L. debut, stopping 31 shots, making his best save with just under three minutes left, turning away a close shot by Paul Mara.

The New York Times - Sports

For his own part Goromaru – an articulate and thoughtful communicator in his native tongue – does consider his command of English a key handicap to making his best fist of the world's top club rugby competition.

The Guardian - Sport

But if the buyout vote is not held simultaneously with the vote on directors, Mr. Icahn asserts, that will deprive shareholders of the opportunity to choose between the buyout deal and Mr. Icahn's alternative, preventing Mr. Dell from making his "best and final" bid.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The child-abuse allegations hanging over him didn't stop R Kelly from making his best-ever single, Ignition Remix, last year.

The Guardian - Music

Mr. Renaldi made his best pitch.

The New York Times

Each then makes his best two-card and best five-card hand.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr. Jones makes his best case, and dumps his prickliest facts, early on.

The New York Times - Books

He has said that he makes his best work when he's miserable.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the phrase "making his best", opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "doing his best" or "giving his best effort". This will enhance clarity and credibility in your writing.

Common error

While creative language can add flair, relying on non-standard phrases like "making his best" can detract from clarity. Prioritize using established expressions to ensure your message is easily understood and well-received.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making his best" functions as a verbal phrase, aiming to describe someone's exertion of effort. However, its non-standard usage makes it less effective than alternatives. Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is not considered correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "making his best" aims to express maximum effort, it's not considered grammatically sound in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. More conventional alternatives like "doing his best" or "giving his best effort" are preferable for clarity and credibility. Although found in some news sources, its non-standard nature suggests avoiding it in formal writing to ensure your message is well-received.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

doing his best

Replaces "making" with "doing", resulting in a more conventional and grammatically sound expression.

giving his best effort

Substitutes "making his best" with "giving his best effort", which is a more explicit and widely accepted phrase.

trying his hardest

Replaces the entire phrase with a simpler and more common expression for exerting maximum effort.

putting his best foot forward

Replaces the phrase with an idiomatic expression suggesting an attempt to make a good impression.

striving for excellence

Shifts the focus to the goal of achieving excellence, rather than just effort.

exerting maximum effort

Replaces the phrase with a more formal and emphatic expression of effort.

performing at his peak

Focuses on the level of performance rather than the effort made.

aiming for the top

Changes the focus to aiming for success, implying effort without explicitly stating it.

endeavoring to succeed

Introduces a formal tone, emphasizing the attempt to achieve a positive outcome.

applying himself fully

Focuses on the act of applying oneself with complete dedication.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "making his best"?

Instead of "making his best", consider using alternatives like "doing his best", "giving his best effort", or "trying his hardest" for improved clarity.

Is "making his best" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "making his best" isn't considered standard English. More conventional options such as "doing his best" or "giving his best effort" are preferred.

How can I use "giving his best effort" in a sentence?

You might say, "Despite the challenges, he was "giving his best effort" to complete the project on time".

What's the difference between "making his best" and "doing his best"?

"Making his best" is less common and slightly awkward. "Doing his best" is a more natural and grammatically correct way to express someone is trying their hardest.