shallow effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shallow effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an attempt or endeavor that lacks depth, seriousness, or thoroughness. Example: "The project failed because the team put in a shallow effort, neglecting important details and research."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The game was an unsightly jumble of misguided baserunning, shallow effort, erratic throws, oblivious fielding, injuries, plays that should have been called errors and one actual error — and that was just the Marlins' output.

The New York Times - Sports

Still, however fashionable it is to attack the wave of new architectural monuments as part of a shallow effort to attract tourist dollars, many of these designs involve some sort of sincere effort to repair a torn urban fabric.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

They are, but wasting my written voice on championing shallow efforts at continued conformity to what is expected of women in a patriarchal society does not feel productive.

Huffington Post

The percentage of 27,197 P. vulgaris transcripts (taking just the longest transcript from each locus) with a BLAST hit in these four legumes was lower (49 70%; Table 1); however, this is not unexpected given the relatively shallow sequencing effort undertaken.

Applications in Plant Sciences

To this day, it is remarkably shallow, despite efforts to dredge deeper channels.

The New Yorker

Lively's characters are shallow, their efforts at introspection often hilarious, but they are all obliged to confront their complicity in the premature death of a woman they each claim to have loved.

The New York Times - Books

Patients with shallow respiratory efforts may induce the opposite changes in the IVC collapsibility.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

On the other hand, in Curacao, almost no deep sea sponges have been reported but collecting effort in shallow waters and taxonomic descriptions has been significant [90] [92].

Plosone

Improving shallow breathing through focused efforts to calm and deepen your breathing can be very calming.

Huffington Post

As the Dutch fleet attempted to reach shallower waters in an effort to escape the British attack, the British leeward division joined the windward combat and eventually forced the surrender of the Dutch flagship Vrijheid and ten other ships.

Wikipedia

Despite her best efforts, shallow-rooted plants like dogwoods and azaleas suffered.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When criticizing an effort, use "shallow effort" to suggest it lacked depth or thoroughness. Be specific about what aspects were insufficiently addressed to strengthen your critique.

Common error

Avoid using "shallow effort" as a general criticism. Instead, specify what aspects of the effort were lacking or superficial to provide constructive feedback.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shallow effort" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "shallow" modifies the noun "effort". It describes the quality of the effort made. Ludwig AI confirms that this usage is correct and appears in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shallow effort" is a phrase used to denote a lack of depth or thoroughness in an attempt or endeavor. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usage in diverse contexts. The phrase is employed to critically evaluate undertakings, with a neutral register, commonly found in news and media, as well as scientific domains. When using this phrase, specify what aspects of the effort were superficial to make your critique constructive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

superficial attempt

Emphasizes the lack of depth and thoroughness in the attempt.

surface-level endeavor

Highlights that the endeavor only scratches the surface without delving deeper.

perfunctory undertaking

Suggests that the undertaking was carried out with minimal effort or enthusiasm.

half-hearted attempt

Indicates a lack of commitment and genuine interest in the attempt.

token gesture

Implies that the effort was made primarily for appearances rather than genuine intent.

insufficient exertion

Highlights the inadequacy of the energy or effort put forth.

minimal input

Focuses on the limited resources or contribution invested in the effort.

casual approach

Emphasizes the lack of seriousness and dedication in the approach.

frivolous attempt

Suggests that the attempt was unserious and lacking in substance.

negligible effort

Highlights that the effort was so small as to be almost insignificant.

FAQs

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

You can use "shallow effort" to describe an attempt or endeavor that lacks depth or thoroughness. For example, "Their "shallow effort" at research resulted in inaccurate conclusions."

What are some alternatives to "shallow effort"?

Alternatives to "shallow effort" include "superficial attempt", "surface-level endeavor", or "half-hearted attempt", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "shallow effort" a formal or informal phrase?

"Shallow effort" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it is more common in analytical or critical writing where evaluating the quality of an attempt is relevant.

What does it mean to describe something as a "shallow effort"?

Describing something as a "shallow effort" implies that the attempt was superficial, lacking in depth, and did not address the underlying issues or complexities. It suggests a lack of commitment or thoroughness.