scant effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scant effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a minimal or insufficient amount of effort put into a task or activity. Example: "Despite the importance of the project, the team put forth only a scant effort, resulting in a subpar outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Despite the high cost of the Nest device, Mr. Fadell contends it will pay for itself in a year in energy-savings, with scant effort from the user.

The New York Times - Tech

Individually, they're fun to watch, though Leterrier — not an actor's director — makes scant effort to play them off against one another.

The New Yorker

The high success rates typically reflect scant effort to find monitor whether patients are experiencing fibrillation without symptoms, one of many problems with the highly variable condition.

The New York Times

But even as the gruesome effects of the battles slam the national consciousness, there has been scant effort to prepare the public for the impact of the fighting.

The New York Times

Second, Tippett did not tend to keep letters written to him, and scant effort is made to explain what he might be replying to.

The Guardian - Music

What is more difficult to accept, or indeed understand, is the scant effort made by the retreating forces of New Labour to learn the lessons from defeat so that we can begin to rebuild.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

To date, scant efforts have been made to explore how this resource can be used through a sociocultural learning/teaching approach to facilitate learning.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

The main research diffusion mechanisms are researcher driven, basically scientific journals and conferences, with very scant efforts in broader dissemination mechanisms such as executive summaries, newsletters or blogs.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Nonetheless, scant scholarly effort has been invested in handling common method variance in hospitality research.

International Journal of Hospitality Management

Riley's second confirmed a maiden trip to Old Trafford, rendering Meli's effort scant consolation.

The Guardian - Sport

Stefan Ratchford and Richie Myler added second-half scores for the Wolves, with Iain Thornley's effort scant consolation for the Warriors.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "scant effort", ensure the context clearly indicates what task or goal the effort is lacking for maximum impact. For instance: 'Despite the looming deadline, the team demonstrated scant effort in completing the project.'

Common error

Avoid using "scant effort" when you intend to describe a situation where no effort was made at all. "Scant effort" implies some minimal attempt, not a complete absence of action. For example, instead of 'He made scant effort to apologize,' use 'He made no effort to apologize' if he didn't try at all.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scant effort" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an object or subject complement to describe the degree of effort applied to a task or situation. It indicates a lack of substantial or sufficient exertion. As Ludwig AI states, it describes a minimal amount of effort.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scant effort" is a valid phrase used to describe a lack of significant exertion toward a task. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for written English. While alternatives like "minimal effort" or "little effort" exist, "scant effort" offers a nuanced way to express criticism or disappointment. Predominantly found in news and media, with some presence in scientific and formal business contexts, its versatile register makes it a useful phrase for conveying a deficiency in commitment across various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimal exertion

Focuses on the limited physical or mental energy expended.

little investment

Emphasizes the low level of resources committed to a task.

negligible attempt

Highlights the insignificance of the undertaking.

token gesture

Suggests a symbolic action with minimal practical effect.

cursory endeavor

Indicates a hasty and superficial attempt.

meager contribution

Stresses the small amount provided or given.

limited application

Points to the narrow scope or extent of the effort.

shallow involvement

Emphasizes the lack of depth in participation or engagement.

perfunctory action

Implies a routine or indifferent performance.

inadequate measure

Highlights the insufficiency of the step taken.

FAQs

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

You can use "scant effort" to describe a situation where very little effort was put into something. For example: 'The company made "scant effort" to address the environmental concerns raised by the community'.

What is a good alternative to "scant effort"?

Alternatives to "scant effort" include phrases like "minimal effort", "little effort", or "negligible effort", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "scant effort" a formal or informal expression?

"Scant effort" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's a relatively neutral expression that can be used in a variety of settings without sounding out of place.

What does "scant" mean in the phrase "scant effort"?

In the phrase "scant effort", "scant" means 'barely sufficient or adequate'. It implies that the amount of effort made was very small or insufficient for the task at hand.