respectable attempts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "respectable attempts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe efforts that are commendable or worthy of respect, often in the context of trying to achieve something challenging. Example: "Despite the challenges, the team made several respectable attempts to meet the project deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The ARWU is generally considered one of the more respectable attempts to measure quality and is widely recognized.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He had one great suicidal scene as a cop in The New Centurions (1972); he was amusing in Oklahoma Crude (1973), a modern Western about oil; he talked credibly to dolphins in The Day of the Dolphin (1973); and he made a respectable attempt at being Hemingway in Schaffner's movie Islands in the Stream (1977).

The Guardian

The reviewer admitted, however, that the game's "respectable attempt to preserve John Williams' musical score" was one of its only highlights.

Wikipedia

I mean, it was no Dennis Wideman hurdy-gurdy, mid-air fail – it was a respectable enough attempt – but it was a key moment, one that ended up being a turning point anyway, just for the other team.

The Guardian - Sport

The star, though, was a dish that every respectable Chengdu restaurant attempts: wood ear mushrooms, somehow rendered both soft and crispy, tossed with sesame oil, vinegar and fresh cilantro.

The New York Times - Travel

In fact, there is a long and respectable history of attempts to curb courts that run wild: Thomas Jefferson tried impeachment of the Supreme Court justices, but his first attempt narrowly failed in the Senate.

The New York Times

Before they began their partnership that year, Williams had won 41 titles, 13 of them majors in 47 attempts, a perfectly respectable dividend of 27.7%.

The Guardian - Sport

Our initial attempts gave a respectable recovery of the spiked drug at ca. 60 %.

Chemistry Central Journal

But this has only infuriated its critics, who believe the prize is a not-too-subtle attempt to inveigle respectable scientists into the sphere of religion.

Independent

The obvious hoaxers gain more attention than those attempting to remain respectable.

Huffington Post

The far-right's attempt to look respectable so that they could win elections was coming undone.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "respectable attempts", ensure the context clearly indicates what makes the attempts worthy of respect. Specify the qualities or outcomes that elevate them above mere efforts.

Common error

Avoid using "respectable attempts" as a generic filler. Make sure the attempts genuinely warrant respect due to their quality, effort, or outcome. If the attempts are mediocre, choose a more appropriate descriptor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "respectable attempts" functions as a noun phrase, where "respectable" modifies the noun "attempts". Ludwig AI identifies its primary grammatical function as describing actions or efforts that are worthy of admiration or consideration.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "respectable attempts" is a phrase used to describe efforts or actions that are worthy of admiration or consideration, often despite a lack of complete success. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and indicates that, while not overly common, it appears in a variety of contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and formal writing. When using the phrase, ensure that the context clearly justifies why the attempts are considered respectable. Alternatives like "admirable endeavors" or "creditable efforts" can be considered to vary the phrasing while maintaining a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

admirable endeavors

Replaces "attempts" with "endeavors" and "respectable" with "admirable", emphasizing the worthiness of the effort.

creditable efforts

Uses "creditable" instead of "respectable", highlighting the praiseworthy nature of the attempts.

worthy undertakings

Substitutes both words to focus on valuable projects or tasks undertaken.

honorable tries

Replaces "attempts" with "tries" and "respectable" with "honorable", suggesting integrity and good intention.

commendable strivings

Uses "commendable" in place of "respectable" and "strivings" instead of "attempts", adding a sense of earnest effort.

laudable endeavors

Emphasizes the praiseworthiness of the actions with the use of "laudable".

decent go

Uses "decent" instead of "respectable" and "go" instead of "attempts", creating a more informal tone.

reasonable shots

Replaces "attempts" with "shots" and "respectable" with "reasonable", portraying an expectation of fairness.

sound experiments

Substitutes "attempts" with "experiments" and "respectable" with "sound", indicating a reliable and well-founded approach.

legitimate tries

Replaces "attempts" with "tries" and "respectable" with "legitimate", highlighting the validity of the attempts.

FAQs

How can I use "respectable attempts" in a sentence?

You can use "respectable attempts" to describe efforts that are worthy of admiration or consideration. For example, "Despite the limited resources, the team made "respectable attempts" to complete the project on time."

What are some alternatives to saying "respectable attempts"?

Alternatives include "admirable endeavors", "creditable efforts", or "worthy undertakings" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use "respectable attempts"?

While not strictly redundant, consider whether the adjective "respectable" adds significant meaning. If the attempts are inherently worthy of respect, the adjective reinforces that quality. However, if the attempts are questionable, avoid using it.

What distinguishes "respectable attempts" from "failed attempts"?

"Respectable attempts" suggests that the effort itself was praiseworthy, even if the outcome wasn't fully successful. "Failed attempts" simply indicates a lack of success, without necessarily implying anything about the quality of the effort.