spend time and effort

USAGE SUMMARY

'spend time and effort' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize the amount of effort or time that someone puts into a task. For example: "I had to spend a lot of time and effort to complete this project correctly".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

By which I mean reporters, on-the-road reporters who spend time and effort to seek out stories.

The Guardian

Instead they should spend time and effort on properly implementing and monitoring the system of warranties promised several years ago.

The Guardian - Opinion

If you want to spend time and effort on your loved ones, offer to deep clean their houses, mow their lawn for a year or clean their drains.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Products are chosen carefully, there a lot of homemade ingredients and the owners spend time and effort on the presentation and garnishing.

The Guardian - Travel

As tempting as it may be to wait until the deadline – which this year is on Thursday (5 April) – it pays to spend time and effort spreading your payments throughout the year.

Independent

They must spend time and effort concealing their intentions, or smaller traders will jump in front of them, bidding up stocks that the big companies are buying and pushing down shares that they are selling.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

However, from a clinician point of view during an emergency such as the period before and after a cardiac arrest, it is not realistic to spend time and efforts to test the accuracy of the arterial waveform.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

For example, the firm says that before it put money into the project it spent time and effort determining the impact if the deal went sour.

The New York Times

The company has spent time and effort having its website pages translated into other languages and in using search engine optimisation (SEO), so that potential customers can find the firm and its products quickly and efficiently.

The Guardian

She has spent time and effort gaining the trust of colleagues in order to get them to send her referrals and to encourage staff to identify residents much earlier who needed help from the dementia palliative care service.

The Guardian

These models create a race to the bottom situation, where anyone who spends time and effort on their content is pushed out of business.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When emphasizing the dedication required for a task, use "spend time and effort" to highlight both the temporal and active commitment involved. Be specific about where the time and effort are directed for greater clarity.

Common error

Don't just say you "spend time and effort"; specify what you dedicated your time and effort to. Vague statements weaken the impact of your commitment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spend time and effort" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the investment of resources (time and effort) into a particular activity or goal. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is appropriate for emphasizing dedication to a task. The examples show a wide range of activities requiring this investment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

33%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spend time and effort" is a versatile phrase used to emphasize the commitment of resources—both temporal and active—towards a specific goal. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and highly usable in English writing. Its common usage across diverse sources such as news, science, and business indicates its widespread applicability. Remember to specify what the time and effort are being spent on for clearer communication. Related phrases like "invest time and energy" and "dedicate attention and resources" can offer alternative shades of meaning, but "spend time and effort" provides a general and effective way to highlight dedication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

invest time and energy

Replaces "effort" with "energy", slightly shifting the focus to the exertion of energy rather than planned action.

devote resources and energy

Uses "devote" to emphasize dedication and replaces "time and effort" with the broader "resources and energy".

dedicate attention and resources

Focuses on dedicating "attention" as a key component, broadening "effort" to encompass all "resources".

put in the work

An idiomatic alternative that replaces the formal "spend time and effort" with a more casual expression.

exert oneself

A more concise and formal way of saying that someone has put in considerable effort.

apply oneself

Emphasizes the conscious application of one's skills and abilities.

make a commitment

Stresses the act of committing to a task rather than the specific expenditure of time and effort.

plow time and energy

"Plow" is added to show continuous action on something.

give consideration and energy

Focuses on the mental aspect of "consideration" and the physical exertion of "energy".

labor diligently

Replaces the phrase with a more descriptive verb and adverb emphasizing hard work.

FAQs

How can I use "spend time and effort" in a sentence?

Use "spend time and effort" to emphasize that a task requires both a time commitment and active exertion, as in "I had to "devote time and effort" to learn the new software".

What are some alternatives to "spend time and effort"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "invest time and energy", "dedicate attention and resources", or simply "put in the work".

Is it better to say "spend time and effort" or "invest time and effort"?

Both phrases are correct, but "invest time and energy" often implies an expectation of a return or benefit from the dedication, whereas "spend time and effort" is a more general statement of commitment.

What is the difference between "spend time and effort" and "make an effort"?

"Make an effort" indicates a general attempt, while "spend time and effort" highlights the actual resources committed. It emphasizes the concrete dedication of resources to achieve something.