on the previous attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on the previous attempt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a prior effort or try at something, often in contexts discussing progress or outcomes. Example: "The results were significantly better than on the previous attempt, indicating that our new strategy is effective."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

With 59 lawmakers having voted for cloture on the previous attempt, they need one more member to end debate and proceed to a vote on the bill itself.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Because these decisions are based on quite separate criteria, the previous attempt to produce a single-risk categorization and a separate therapy recommendation are no longer considered appropriate.

Annals of Oncology

It was the second attempt at creating a new live action television series based on Star Trek for Paramount; the previous attempt, called Star Trek: Phase II, failed as a television series but led to Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Wikipedia

Numerology is always a factor when assessing rocket launchings and other military-political events of import in the North: The previous attempt came on April 13, two days before the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, Il-sung, Mr. Kim and the North's fatherng president.

The New York Times

Photograph: screengrab 12.45pm BST The bishop of Dorchester, Colin Fletcher, says he's pleased the previous attempts to pass legislation on female bishops failed.

The Guardian

Building on these previous attempts to study network correlations including finite-size effects that go beyond the mean-field approximation, here we develop an approach based upon a first-order perturbative expansion of the neural equations.

The Journal of Mathematical Neuroscience (JMN)

Based on these previous attempts, Shen and Wang developed a tetrahedron-based, inhomogeneous MC simulator utilizing multiple cores in modern CPUs, arguing that the speedup obtained using mid-range GPUs was insufficient to motivate a complicated, GPU-based implementation [ 24].

Biomedical Optics Express

Terrible human collateral was wrought on the previous four attempts.

Independent

But prospects for a breakthrough are probably even slimmer than on the previous two attempts.

The Guardian

The work carried out in this study is a considerable improvement on the previous preliminary attempts at a DEPM approach made in 1997 2001.

Fisheries Research

In 2002, when the DoT ruled on a previous attempt by BA and American Airlines to form an alliance, it demanded that 16 such slots be surrendered.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using this expression in formal or technical writing, consider if a more precise alternative like "in the preceding trial" could be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "on the previous attempt" without a clear reference point. Make sure the reader understands exactly which prior effort you are referencing. For example, instead of saying "The results were better on the previous attempt", specify: "The results in the second experiment were better than on the previous attempt during the pilot study".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on the previous attempt" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when or under what circumstances an action occurred. Ludwig indicates that it's a correct phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "on the previous attempt" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to reference a prior effort, often for comparison. According to Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English. While relatively rare, it appears in various contexts, from news and media to scientific publications, indicating a neutral formality level. When employing this phrase, clarity is key, ensuring the context makes clear what "attempt" is being referenced. For alternative phrasing, consider options such as "in the prior endeavor" or "during the preceding effort" for similar meaning but slightly different nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during the preceding effort

Replaces 'previous' with 'preceding' and 'attempt' with 'effort', offering a slightly more elaborate structure.

during the last endeavor

Substitutes 'previous' for 'last' and 'attempt' for 'endeavor'.

in the prior endeavor

Changes the preposition and replaces 'attempt' with 'endeavor' for a more formal tone.

in the earlier try

Simplifies the phrasing to use 'try' instead of 'attempt' and 'earlier' instead of 'previous'.

with the earlier effort

Switches to 'with' and uses 'earlier effort' to denote a prior undertaking.

in the former instance

Uses 'former' and 'instance' for a more detached and somewhat formal tone.

on the prior occasion

Replaces 'attempt' with 'occasion', shifting the focus to a specific instance or event.

in the initial undertaking

Replaces 'previous' and 'attempt' with alternatives that convey a sense of commencement and effort.

in the foregoing trial

Employs 'foregoing' and 'trial' for a slightly elevated and judicial nuance.

during our last shot

Uses a more casual term 'shot' in place of 'attempt'.

FAQs

How can I use "on the previous attempt" in a sentence?

You can use "on the previous attempt" to compare the outcome of a current action with an earlier one, like: "The team's performance was significantly improved compared to "on the previous attempt"".

What are some alternatives to "on the previous attempt"?

Alternatives include "in the prior endeavor", "during the preceding effort", or "in the earlier try", depending on the desired level of formality and context.

Is it more appropriate to use "in the previous attempt" or "on the previous attempt"?

Both "on the previous attempt" and "in the previous attempt" are grammatically correct, but "on the previous attempt" is slightly more common, especially when referring to a specific instance or trial. "In the previous attempt" might be preferred when discussing the general process.

How does "on the previous attempt" differ from "during the previous attempt"?

"On the previous attempt" suggests a focus on the specific occasion or instance of the attempt, while "during the previous attempt" emphasizes the actions or events that occurred within the timeframe of that attempt.