protracted effort

USAGE SUMMARY

"protracted effort" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a task or activity that takes a great deal of time and energy or that is long and drawn out. For example, "The team put in a protracted effort to finish the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

And although other factors such as demographics had a part to play, the result of an engaged and protracted effort to improve energy efficiency led to an interesting result: while the rest of the country's energy use grew proportionally to GDP, California's energy use stayed nearly flat as its economy grew, and consumption per person fell dramatically.

Forbes

British authorities are still locked in a protracted effort to send another prominent Muslim cleric to Jordan to face charges.

The New York Times

December 31 , 1892reported that efforts to get a minister to come and aid them in a protracted effort in the near future failed.

Cornell University

The successful restructuring of the party marked a final phase in the protracted effort to save ZANU and establish it as the national vanguard movement.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For Ms. DeVos, the protracted effort to give her money away is illustrative of her first year in government: She struggles with bureaucracy.

The New York Times

But anyone visiting the show to see Klimt, and only Klimt, will have to make a protracted effort to keep him in sight.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

The prosecution was stopped in May 2010 after protracted efforts by Fifa, under Blatter's presidency, to reach a confidential settlement.

The Guardian - Sport

Kazakh authorities said that the police had made protracted efforts to persuade the protesters to withdraw from the railroad tracks but that "50 hooligans" refused to do so.

The New York Times

All were ultimately deported only after protracted efforts by British human rights lobbyists and activist lawyers to keep them in our midst.

The Times

It is the Strasbourg court, not the Luxembourg one, which has ruled on prisoners' voting rights and which threw obstacles in the path of Britain's protracted efforts to deport Abu Qatada.

The Guardian

Bruce has been in charge at Birmingham for little over two weeks since protracted efforts began to part him from his former employees, Crystal Palace, and install him as the man in charge at St Andrews.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "protracted effort" to accurately describe situations where the endeavor has taken or is expected to take a considerable amount of time and energy. It is particularly effective when emphasizing the duration and persistence required.

Common error

Avoid using "protracted effort" when a simpler, shorter approach was sufficient. Ensure the length and difficulty were genuinely inherent to the task, not a result of inefficiency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "protracted effort" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "protracted" modifies the noun "effort". It typically describes a task or activity requiring considerable time and sustained energy. According to Ludwig, this usage is grammatically correct and common.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "protracted effort" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to describe endeavors that are both lengthy and demanding. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across diverse contexts. Its communicative purpose is to underscore the duration and the commitment needed for a task, lending itself well to formal writing and professional discussions. While alternatives like "sustained endeavor" or "lengthy undertaking" exist, "protracted effort" often carries a nuance of difficulty or complexity. To make the most of this phrase, ensure that the situation genuinely warrants its use and that the length and difficulty are inherent, not artificially inflated. Its prevalence in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability and appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sustained endeavor

Emphasizes the continuous and ongoing nature of the effort.

lengthy undertaking

Highlights the extended duration of the task or project.

extended campaign

Suggests a coordinated and prolonged series of actions.

long-term commitment

Focuses on the dedication and duration of the involvement.

drawn-out process

Implies a slow and possibly tedious progression.

persevering approach

Highlights the persistent and determined nature of the effort.

tenacious pursuit

Emphasizes the unwavering and resolute nature of the effort.

enduring struggle

Suggests a difficult and prolonged effort against obstacles.

ongoing initiative

Highlights the continuous and active nature of the effort.

laborious task

Focuses on the amount of work and difficulty involved.

FAQs

How can I use "protracted effort" in a sentence?

You can use "protracted effort" to describe any task or activity that requires a significant amount of time and sustained energy. For instance, "The company's success was the result of a "sustained effort" in research and development".

What are some alternatives to "protracted effort"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "lengthy undertaking", "sustained endeavor", or "long term commitment".

Is it better to say "protracted effort" or "prolonged effort"?

Both "protracted effort" and "prolonged effort" are acceptable, but "protracted" often implies a sense of difficulty or complexity in addition to length, whereas "prolonged" simply means extended in time.

What kind of situations best suit the term "protracted effort"?

The term "protracted effort" is most suitable for describing scenarios involving drawn-out processes, difficult tasks, or long-term projects that demand significant dedication and perseverance.