spend more effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spend more effort" is grammatically correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about someone putting in more effort into a particular task or endeavor. For example: "She wants to get a high score on the test, so she is spending more effort studying."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Clearly, we should spend more effort rigging situations to reduce universal, unconscious racism.

The New York Times

It seems you spend more effort advertising for others then getting advertising yourself?

The New York Times

Most companies spend more effort "fixing" women than on educating managers.

Harvard Business Review

Instead of "mutual trust," Beijing and Washington should drop the wishful thinking and spend more effort on building a realistic relationship based on their interests.

The New York Times

Ms. Mancusi-Ungaro said that conservators have worked on conservation processes for so long that they often spend more effort perfecting technical solutions than they do exploring the nuances that matter to the artist.

The New York Times - Arts

Primakov also urged Yeltsin to spend more effort on building good relations with the former Soviet states, a policy that western hawks claimed was a return to Soviet expansionism, but which Primakov saw as the natural responsibility of a metropolitan power towards areas where large numbers of its former citizens still lived.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

With these findings in hand, CICER will spend more efforts on outreach in China, aiming to affect policy by offering research-based findings.

Cornell University

In the future, we hope to spend more efforts to build up a universal model on resistive switching behaviors of oxide-based RRAM so as to boost the mass production of RRAM and also facilitate the fabrication of three-dimensional stacking structure storage circuits.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Once you have different opinions, you should be tolerate or spend more efforts on mutual communication, rather than arguing with him.

WikiHow

Second, instructors spent more effort tailoring teaching practices for use online than in integrating practices used online back in the classroom.

The Internet and Higher Education

It's time we spent more effort looking at glaciers and their effects on the landscape, more on tropical storms, volcanoes and earthquakes.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advising someone to "spend more effort", be specific about where that effort should be directed for the most effective outcome.

Common error

Avoid simply stating to "spend more effort" without identifying specific areas for improvement. Focus on actionable adjustments.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spend more effort" functions as a directive or recommendation. It advises someone to allocate additional resources and energy toward a particular task or goal. As Ludwig indicates, this is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spend more effort" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that advises increasing dedication and resources towards a goal. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness. While versatile, it's most effective when accompanied by specific suggestions for improvement. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. When advising someone to "spend more effort", specificity will ensure more effective results.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dedicate more resources

Focuses on allocating more tangible assets, not necessarily personal exertion.

devote greater attention

Highlights the attentional component of increased effort.

invest more time

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of increasing effort.

intensify efforts

Focuses on making the current efforts stronger and more concentrated.

exert more energy

Stresses the physical or mental energy expended.

increase commitment

Highlights dedication and engagement toward a goal.

apply more diligence

Implies a consistent and thorough approach to effort.

focus more intently

Emphasizes concentrating one's efforts with greater intensity.

put forth more endeavor

Uses a more formal and emphatic term for effort.

try harder

Simpler, more direct way of expressing increased effort.

FAQs

How can I use "spend more effort" in a sentence?

You can use "spend more effort" to suggest dedicating additional resources or energy to a task. For example, "We need to "dedicate more resources" to marketing if we want to increase sales."

What are some alternatives to "spend more effort"?

Alternatives include "dedicate more resources", "devote greater attention", or "invest more time", each emphasizing a slightly different aspect of increased commitment.

Is it better to say "spend more effort" or "put in more effort"?

Both "spend more effort" and "put in more effort" are grammatically correct and widely used. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific context, but they carry essentially the same meaning.

What's the difference between "spend more effort" and "try harder"?

"Spend more effort" implies a strategic allocation of resources and energy, whereas "try harder" suggests a general increase in exertion. The former is often more specific and actionable.