respectable try

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "respectable try" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to acknowledge an effort that is commendable or worthy of respect, even if the outcome is not successful. Example: "Although the project didn't meet all our expectations, it was a respectable try given the limited resources we had."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The respectable try – and fail.

The Guardian - Opinion

Joseph Strick's film of "Ulysses" is a pretty respectable try.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

For fans of science fiction, the week ahead could have been concocted by an alchemist: four significant science-fiction movies - one of them a successful venture into the genre, two respectable tries that fall on either side of the dividing line between worthwhile and disappointing, and a fourth that seems to have gone completely haywire.

The New York Times - Arts

"They spend too much time looking respectable and trying to keep everyone happy".

Independent

Wholesome young people, they were rather hurt when the police arrested them in large numbers – easier targets to keep their arrest numbers respectable than trying to nab some of Not-Jason's less respectable friends.

The Guardian

What hard-boiled does best is portraying the moment a society turns respectable, or tries to; when the politicians fess up and the criminals take to property speculation as the women do to Botox.

The Guardian - Books

It is their job, and a perfectly respectable one, to try to sell their products; it is our job to try to ignore them.

Independent

Respectable citizens who tried to suppress it were burned in effigy for their pains, alongside the pope a tradition that survives in the Sussex town of Lewes.This peculiar transformation is the subject of "Gunpowder Plots", a book of essays.

The Economist

If there were those, including allegedly respectable academics, who tried to deny Gross's overwhelming evidence or who simply denounced him as a traitor to Poland's sacred cause, there were those who acknowledged the terrible force and importance of his indictment.

The Guardian - Books

"It was a tough decision whether to shut up shop and keep it respectable or keep trying to play and take the initiative.

BBC

There's a more subtly opportunistic play taking place with bitcoin, though, and this is where the big-name and respectable players are: people trying to use the currency as a Trojan horse to fight the existing banking sector.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "respectable try" to acknowledge an effort that deserves recognition, even if it didn't fully succeed. It implies a level of competence or worthiness in the attempt.

Common error

Avoid using "respectable try" too frequently, as it can become repetitive. Consider alternatives like "commendable attempt" or "admirable effort" to add variety to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "respectable try" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "respectable" modifies the noun "try". As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this combination is used to describe an attempt or effort that is worthy of respect or consideration, even if it wasn't entirely successful.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Arts

20%

Sports

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "respectable try" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that serves to acknowledge an effort worthy of recognition, even if not entirely successful. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use implies a level of competence or worthiness in the attempt. Predominantly found in News & Media, Arts and Sports contexts, its frequency is rare, suggesting it's not an overused expression. Alternatives like "commendable attempt" and "admirable effort" can add variety to your writing. Use "respectable try" judiciously to give credit where it's due, without overstating the outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

commendable attempt

Replaces "respectable" with "commendable", emphasizing the praiseworthy nature of the effort.

admirable effort

Substitutes both words, focusing on the praiseworthy aspect of the undertaking.

credible effort

Replaces "respectable" with "credible", highlighting the believability or worthiness of the attempt.

decent attempt

Uses "decent" instead of "respectable", suggesting an adequate but not necessarily outstanding effort.

worthy endeavor

Replaces both words, indicating that the attempt was valuable and deserving of consideration.

honorable attempt

Suggests the attempt was motivated by good intentions and deserves respect.

laudable effort

Highlights the praiseworthiness of the undertaking.

noteworthy attempt

Emphasizes that the attempt is deserving of attention or recognition.

praiseworthy effort

Directly states that the effort is deserving of praise.

significant attempt

Indicates that the effort was important or impactful.

FAQs

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

You can use "respectable try" to describe an attempt that, while not entirely successful, was still worthy of praise or recognition. For example: "Although the project didn't meet all its goals, it was a respectable try given the limited resources."

What are some alternatives to "respectable try"?

Alternatives include "commendable attempt", "admirable effort", or "credible effort", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "respectable try" formal or informal?

"Respectable try" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for highly formal settings, consider more sophisticated synonyms.

What does "respectable try" imply about the outcome?

The phrase "respectable try" suggests that the attempt did not fully succeed, but that the effort was nonetheless worthy of recognition due to its quality, effort, or other mitigating factors.