on the second attempt

USAGE SUMMARY

"on the second attempt" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the second time that someone tries to do something. For example, "John failed to open the door on the first attempt, but he was successful on the second attempt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

He bounced the first one off the rim and failed to hit anything on the second attempt.

The New York Times - Sports

Kevin Mirallas finished a sweeping move on the second attempt to double the lead in a one-sided first half.

BBC

On the second attempt I had seventy-seven.

The New Yorker

After resisting once, Dokic agreed on the second attempt to get into a courtesy car.

The New York Times - Sports

So on the second attempt, I compensated and played for the left-to-right wind.

The New York Times - Sports

On the second attempt, he altered his path, found a hole and deflected Dan Bailey's kick with his hand.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

In all cases except one, the King LT® was placed on the first attempt.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

The King LT was successfully placed on the first attempt in all but one case.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

We based the main analyses on the first attempt by any means or by one of our seven specific methods.

British Medical Journal

In one series, insertion success with the PLMA™ was 84.5% on the first attempt, decreasing to 36% on the fourth attempt.

British Journal of Anaesthesia

On the third attempt, he dislodged it.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about a series of attempts, use "on the first attempt", "on the second attempt", and so on to clearly delineate each try. This enhances clarity and prevents ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using cardinal numbers (one, two, three) instead of ordinal numbers (first, second, third) when describing the sequence of attempts. For example, it's incorrect to say "on the two attempt"; the correct form is "on the second attempt".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on the second attempt" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase. It modifies a verb or clause by providing information about when an action occurred, specifically indicating that it happened during the second try. Ludwig provides several examples where this phrase clarifies the timing and outcome of repeated actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

35%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on the second attempt" is a common and grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to indicate that something was achieved during the second try after an initial failure. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific reporting. The phrase conveys persistence and eventual success, and is adaptable across various levels of formality. Remember to use ordinal numbers and clearly delineate attempts for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the second try

Replaces "attempt" with the synonym "try", maintaining the same meaning.

upon the second try

Uses "upon" instead of "on", which adds a slightly more formal tone but retains the original meaning.

in the second effort

Substitutes "attempt" with "effort", focusing on the exertion made.

during the second go

Uses the informal term "go" in place of "attempt", making it more conversational.

on the follow-up try

Emphasizes the sequential nature of the attempt.

with the second endeavor

Replaces "attempt" with "endeavor", giving a more formal and determined tone.

after a retry

Condenses the phrase to emphasize the re-doing of something.

in a subsequent attempt

Highlights that the attempt happened later in time.

the second time around

Informal idiom for doing something again.

on round two

Uses the term "round" indicating a cyclical or iterative process.

FAQs

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

You can use "on the second attempt" to describe a situation where an initial try at something was unsuccessful, but a subsequent try was successful. For example, "The car didn't start on the first try, but it started "on the second attempt"".

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

Some alternatives include "at the second try", "in the second effort", or "the second time around". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it ever appropriate to omit "on" before "the second attempt"?

While grammatically correct to include "on", it's sometimes omitted in very informal contexts. However, for clarity and correctness, it's generally recommended to include "on" in formal writing and speech.

What's the difference between "on the second attempt" and "after the first attempt"?

"On the second attempt" focuses on the moment of the second try, implying it might have been successful. "After the first attempt" simply indicates a point in time following the initial try, without implying anything about the second try's outcome. For example, "He succeeded "on the second attempt"", versus "He analyzed his mistakes after the first attempt".