sought to formulate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sought to formulate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an attempt to create, develop, or articulate something, such as a plan, idea, or theory. Example: "The researchers sought to formulate a new theory that could explain the observed phenomena."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

As their foreign ministers gathered here today in advance of a weekend summit meeting, Arab leaders sought to formulate a unified position that could appease popular demands to punish Israel but also keep the door open to future Arab-Israeli peacemaking.

The New York Times

In that essay, Hook sought to formulate the indispensable subject matter for a curriculum in higher education.

SEP

Many political philosophers who have sought to formulate a duty of tyrannicide have tried to limit that duty to those acting in clearly defined public roles.

SEP

Since the publication of John Rawls's landmark A Theory of Justice in 1971, liberal theorists such as Charles Beitz and Thomas Pogge have sought to formulate a cosmopolitan version of liberalism by extending Rawlsian principles of domestic justice to the international realm.

SEP

Within the civilian trauma setting, both Hertel et al. [ 16] and Chung et al. [ 9] sought to formulate the cost of amputation care.

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

Such studies have sought to formulate propositions that will help to improve communication between service provider and user, thereby enabling the development of effective social and health policies.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Mathematicians who regard these probabilistic models as approximations to a continuous reality seek to formulate what happens in the limit as the approximations improve indefinitely.

Encyclopedia Britannica

C&C is often hailed as an elegant, fair way to bring down global emissions in that it seeks to formulate the rate at which each country reduces its emissions according to their current per capita emissions.

The Guardian

As we seek to formulate a policy that is ethically defensible and that also serves our interests, Packer, after reviewing many factors in play, suggests that there is no easy way to end the conflict.

The New Yorker

Since mature sciences always have systematic theories, we should seek to formulate one for the domain of ontogeny.

SEP

When the U.S. Department of Education was seeking to formulate a best practice for accessible digital instructional materials for students with disabilities, the well-developed DTBook standard was already available.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sought to formulate", ensure that the subject clearly indicates who was attempting to create or develop something. For instance, "The committee sought to formulate new guidelines" is clearer than "New guidelines were sought to formulate."

Common error

Avoid using "sought to formulate" in passive constructions where the actor is unclear or obscured. This can weaken the sentence and make it less direct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sought to formulate" functions as an infinitive phrase, often used to express the purpose or intention behind an action. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it connects a subject with their effort to develop or create something specific.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sought to formulate" is a formal phrase used to describe a past attempt to create or develop something. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and most commonly found in scientific, news, and encyclopedia contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying who undertook the formulation process. While "sought to formulate" is suitable for formal writing, remember to consider less formal alternatives like "aimed to create" or "attempted to develop" for more casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sought the creation of

Focuses on the desire for something to be brought into existence.

aimed to create

Emphasizes the goal or intention behind the formulation.

attempted to develop

Focuses on the effort made to develop an idea or plan.

endeavored to construct

Highlights the sustained effort to build or create something.

tried to devise

Stresses the attempt to invent or plan something carefully.

worked to establish

Implies effort towards setting up or founding something.

undertook to design

Focuses on the commitment to designing a specific solution or system.

set out to frame

Emphasizes the initial intention to create a structure or framework.

pursued the development of

Highlights the active pursuit of a development process.

strived to conceptualize

Emphasizes the effort involved in forming a concept or idea.

FAQs

How can I use "sought to formulate" in a sentence?

Use "sought to formulate" to describe an attempt to create or develop something, such as a plan, idea, or theory. For example, "The researchers "sought to formulate" a new hypothesis."

What are some alternatives to "sought to formulate"?

You can use alternatives like "aimed to create", "attempted to develop", or "endeavored to construct" depending on the specific context.

Is "sought to formulate" formal or informal?

"Sought to formulate" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for academic, professional, and journalistic contexts. More informal alternatives might include "tried to come up with" or "looked to create".

What's the difference between "sought to formulate" and "seek to formulate"?

"Sought to formulate" is the past tense, indicating an action that has already occurred. "Seek to formulate" is the present tense, indicating an ongoing or future action. Use "sought" when referring to a completed attempt and "seek" when referring to a current or future endeavor.