scant attempts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scant attempts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there have been very few or insufficient efforts made towards something. Example: "Despite the urgency of the project, there were only scant attempts to address the issues at hand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

After a while, one gives up on the scant attempts of the piece to be hip, a lame "friends of Dorothy" joke included, and begins ticking off stops on the Yellow Brick Road, as our motley quartet sets off to meet the bluff-and-bluster Wizard.

The New York Times - Arts

Unfortunately there have been scant attempts to report on the last two.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Evidence of the progressive feminisation of migration from Moldova and Georgia is relatively scant, as few attempts have been made to explicitly map changes to the composition of emigration flows.

Comparative Migration Studies

4. Ken Strong, 1934 Giants: Kicking statistics from the 1930s are scant (lengths and missed attempts are rarely available), and most teams used several different position players as kickers.

The New York Times

Given the scant prospects that any attempt to restructure the opposition will succeed — the last such meeting in Cairo in June ended in shouting and fistfights — senior opposition figures tried to smooth over any differences in their initial remarks.

The New York Times

Although the importance of teaching creativity in higher education has been widely recognized, empirical research addressing the success of such attempts, has been scant.

Thinking Skills and Creativity

The data published on suicide attempts in Spain are scant [ 4, 5], and no data are available on patients admitted to General Hospitals in our public healthcare setting after a suicide attempt.

BMC Psychiatry

And the liberal media refused to conspire (finally!) with Big Science's attempted whitewash: There was scant coverage of the four "independent" investigations which, all-too-conveniently and coincidentally, cleared the scientists of misconduct and reconfirmed the global warming fallacy.

Huffington Post

These are well above average EU figures, but still far below those for younger people.As for the direct gains or costs to employers, a 50-page study with the green paper attempts to supply figures, with scant success.

The Economist

But even those federal employees have found scant protection under the Obama administration in their attempt to blow the whistle on national security practices.

Huffington Post

The most audacious sight gag, the spontaneous shattering of a glass door, is done with scant ceremony, and the joke then becomes the doorman's attempts to carry on as if the door were intact.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "scant attempts", ensure the context clearly indicates that the lack of effort is significant or problematic. This phrase is most effective when emphasizing a deficiency or a failure to act adequately.

Common error

Avoid using "scant attempts" in overly formal or academic writing where more precise language might be preferred. Consider alternatives like "limited efforts" or "insufficient attempts" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scant attempts" functions as a noun phrase where "scant" modifies the noun "attempts". It describes the limited or insufficient nature of efforts made. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scant attempts" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, although relatively uncommon. It describes situations where there are limited or insufficient efforts. Ludwig AI confirms this and suggests that its primary function is to express criticism or disappointment about a lack of effort. It is most frequently found in news and scientific contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the significance of the limited effort. For more formal writing, consider alternatives like "limited efforts" or "insufficient attempts".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited efforts

Replaces "scant attempts" with more common synonyms, emphasizing the small quantity of effort.

meager efforts

Substitutes "scant" with "meager", highlighting the inadequacy of the efforts.

minimal attempts

Uses "minimal" to emphasize the very small number of attempts made.

few tries

Replaces "attempts" with the more informal "tries", making the phrase less formal.

rare attempts

Highlights the infrequency of the attempts rather than their quantity.

isolated attempts

Emphasizes that the attempts were not part of a sustained effort.

token efforts

Indicates that the attempts were made as a mere formality, without genuine commitment.

superficial attempts

Highlights the lack of depth and thoroughness in the attempts.

half-hearted efforts

Emphasizes the lack of enthusiasm and commitment behind the attempts.

perfunctory attempts

Suggests that the attempts were carried out routinely and without real interest or care.

FAQs

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

You can use "scant attempts" to describe situations where there were very few or insufficient efforts made. For example, "Despite the urgency, there were "scant attempts" to address the problem effectively."

What can I say instead of "scant attempts"?

You can use alternatives like "limited efforts", "meager efforts", or "minimal attempts" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "scant attempts" or "few attempts"?

"Scant attempts" and "few attempts" are both grammatically correct, but "scant" implies a sense of deficiency or inadequacy that "few" might not fully convey. "Scant" is also slightly more formal.

What's the difference between "scant attempts" and "superficial attempts"?

"Scant attempts" refers to the quantity or number of attempts, implying there were very few. "Superficial attempts", on the other hand, refers to the quality or depth of the attempts, suggesting they lacked thoroughness or genuine effort.