past effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "past effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to efforts or attempts that were made in the past, often in the context of discussing achievements or lessons learned. Example: "Reflecting on our past effort, we can see how much we have improved over the years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Please give generouslyApr 23rd 2009The protests lack the strength of a past effort in 2000, which toppled a president.

The Economist

But a past effort at a bargain product, the colorful, plastic iPhone 5C, was widely seen as a flop.

The Guardian - Tech

That is a poor return on his past effort and, it is possible to hope, continuing interest in the environment.The downturn should have spurred Mr Cameron not so much to retrench as rethink.

The Economist

(Anderson) ★ Yonder Mountain String Band (Saturday) The loving earnestness and technically exceptional musicianship of this progressive bluegrass band is hard to reconcile with the past effort of the banjoist Dave Johnston: a band called the Bluegrassholes.

The New York Times - Arts

NEW YORK Because of an editing error, an article in some editions on Friday about the collapse of merger talks between NYU Langone Medical Center and Continuum Health Partners after Continuum got a competing offer from Mount Sinai Medical Center referred incompletely to a past effort by Mount Sinai and NYU to merge.

The New York Times

But if IBM looks at Intel's past effort in consumer products it probably won't tremble with fear.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Past efforts at reform have failed dismally.

The Economist

Past efforts have foundered.

The New York Times

I brought up her past efforts at bipartisanship to Palin.

The New York Times - Magazine

Past efforts to reform the Bank were also tempestuous.

The Economist

Past efforts to control guns have not dramatically reduced violence.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In project reports, refer to "past effort" when outlining the history of a task or initiative, providing context for current activities.

Common error

Avoid using "past effort" when referring to ongoing activities. Ensure the effort is truly completed before labeling it as "past effort". For example, instead of saying "Our past effort involves daily check-ins," specify the completed phase: "The initial phase of our effort involved daily check-ins".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "past effort" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object in a sentence. It refers to work or energy that was expended at some earlier time. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "past effort" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that refers to work or energy expended in the past. Ludwig confirms its usability and correctness. Its primary function is to provide context or reflect on previous actions. The phrase is versatile, fitting comfortably in neutral to professional registers, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. When using "past effort", ensure that the effort is truly completed and that the context is appropriate. Consider alternatives like "previous endeavor" or "prior attempt" for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

past endeavor

Substitutes "endeavor" for "effort", providing a more formal alternative.

previous endeavor

Replaces "effort" with "endeavor", implying a serious or determined attempt.

prior attempt

Substitutes "past" with "prior" and "effort" with "attempt", focusing on a previous try.

past undertaking

Another way to say "past endeavour", simply swap "undertaking" with "effort".

former undertaking

Uses "former" instead of "past" and "undertaking" for "effort", suggesting a commitment to a task.

earlier exertion

Replaces "effort" with "exertion", highlighting the energy expended in a previous action.

previous work

Uses "work" instead of "effort", emphasizing the labor involved.

prior activity

Replaces "effort" with "activity", broadening the scope to include any previous action.

previous pursuit

Suggests a goal-oriented activity, rather than just general effort.

bygone exertion

Emphasizes that the effort happened long ago, using a more formal tone.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "past effort"?

You can use alternatives like "previous endeavor", "prior attempt", or "former undertaking" depending on the context.

How do I use "past effort" in a sentence?

Use "past effort" to refer to work or attempts that have already been completed. For example, "Reflecting on our past effort, we identified key areas for improvement".

Is it correct to say "efforts in the past" instead of "past effort"?

While grammatically correct, "efforts in the past" is less concise and often less impactful than "past effort". The latter is generally preferred for its directness.

What's the difference between "past effort" and "previous attempt"?

"Past effort" can encompass a broader range of activities, while "previous attempt" specifically refers to a singular try or effort. Consider the scope of what you're describing when choosing between these phrases.