startling efforts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "startling efforts" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe efforts that are surprising or unexpected in their intensity or impact. Example: "The team's startling efforts to reduce waste led to a significant decrease in the company's carbon footprint."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Still the Massachusetts work is one of the most startling efforts in the rapidly evolving field of tissue engineering in which biologists and biomedical engineers are growing living tissue in incubators and bioreactors.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Mohammed Hafeez has made a startling effort to make a catch at short leg as a bouncer flies high into the air off Porterfield's bat: but he drops it, and Pakistan are in torments of anguish.

The Guardian - Sport

With the South African No8 Duane Vermeulen the latest big name to sign up for a stint beside the Mediterranean, it will require a startling effort by someone to drag Toulon – whose fitness coach Paul Stridgeon will be assisting Wales with their World Cup preparations – back into the chasing pack.

The Guardian - Sport

This utter disregard is even more startling given the efforts and sacrifices made by countless Americans contributing to and working in the humanitarian and development field all across the world, including in Pakistan.

Huffington Post

The great irony is that only when "Mouthpiece Theatre" achieved its apogee of awesome, startling awfulness did the effort finally "go viral".

Huffington Post

Their efforts have been startling and humbling, so you should visit the Facebook page they set up immediately and donate.

Vice

They have embraced the 2000 season as a joyous, startling documentation of hard-earned effort and faith in teamwork, but have been forever mindful, and forever reminded, that their final-game failure revealed what they have yet to achieve.

The New York Times - Sports

Qadeer thanked Matt for all his efforts but had more startling news.

Vice

In 1999, Microsoft adjusted its salary structure, paying its employees more in an effort to compete against the startling Silicon Valley salary inflation of the dot-com era.

The New York Times

But the startling thing about "Peacemakers" is that it makes no effort to appeal to younger viewers.

The New York Times - Arts

Related Excerpt: Uncivil Society (randomhouse.com) I was there that night, and it was a moment of such intense exhilaration that it takes an effort today to recall how spontaneous and startling it really was — and how mundane the motives.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "startling efforts", ensure the context clearly establishes what makes the efforts surprising or unexpected. Providing specific details enhances the impact of the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "startling efforts" as a generic compliment. If the efforts are not genuinely surprising or unexpected, opt for a more accurate descriptor like "significant" or "diligent".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "startling efforts" primarily functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "startling" modifies the noun "efforts". It is used to describe endeavors that are surprisingly or unexpectedly effective. Ludwig AI provides examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "startling efforts" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that describes surprisingly effective or unexpected actions. According to Ludwig AI, its usage spans across News & Media, scientific, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly justifies the "startling" aspect, and consider alternatives like "astonishing endeavors" or "remarkable attempts" for nuanced expression. "Startling efforts" is valuable for emphasizing the impact and unexpected nature of specific endeavors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

astonishing endeavors

Replaces "startling" with "astonishing" and "efforts" with "endeavors", changing both the adjective and the noun while keeping the core meaning.

remarkable attempts

Substitutes "startling" with "remarkable" and "efforts" with "attempts", offering a slightly less intense but similar description.

surprising undertakings

Changes "startling" to "surprising" and "efforts" to "undertakings", providing a more general sense of unexpectedness.

unexpected initiatives

Replaces "startling" with "unexpected" and "efforts" with "initiatives", emphasizing the unforeseen nature of the actions.

impressive feats

Substitutes "startling efforts" with "impressive feats", shifting the focus to the achievement rather than the actions taken.

extraordinary measures

Changes "startling" to "extraordinary" and "efforts" to "measures", highlighting the exceptional nature of the actions taken.

unforeseen actions

Replaces "startling" with "unforeseen" and "efforts" with "actions", focusing on the unanticipated nature of the behavior.

notable endeavors

Substitutes "startling" with "notable" and "efforts" with "endeavors", providing a more subdued but still positive assessment.

striking attempts

Changes "startling" to "striking" and "efforts" to "attempts", offering a vivid and noticeable impact of the efforts.

amazing interventions

Replaces "startling efforts" with "amazing interventions", underscoring the positive and surprising outcome of the actions.

FAQs

How can I use "startling efforts" in a sentence?

You can use "startling efforts" to describe actions or endeavors that are surprisingly effective or impactful. For example: "The team's "startling efforts" in marketing led to a significant increase in sales."

What are some alternatives to "startling efforts"?

Alternatives include "remarkable attempts", "astonishing endeavors", or "unexpected initiatives" depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "startling efforts" or "significant efforts"?

"Startling efforts" is best used when the actions are surprisingly effective or unexpected. If the efforts are simply substantial or noteworthy without being particularly surprising, "significant efforts" would be more appropriate.

What makes "startling efforts" different from "impressive results"?

"Startling efforts" emphasizes the actions taken, highlighting their surprising nature, while "impressive results" focuses on the outcome. You would use "startling efforts" to describe the surprising actions themselves, and "impressive results" to describe the positive consequences of those actions.