step up efforts

USAGE SUMMARY

"step up efforts" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
It can be used when you want to encourage someone to put more energy into achieving a goal. For example, "We need to step up our efforts if we want to meet our year-end deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The German government should step up efforts to attract firms.

The Guardian - Business

"To that end I will step up efforts to obtain the understanding of the international community".

The Guardian

Coffee rose on expectations that the world's biggest growers would step up efforts to trim exports.

The New York Times

"That is why we have to step up efforts to save them".

The New York Times

Indeed, the document calls for Catholics to step up efforts at religious dialogue with Muslims.

The New York Times

It would also step up efforts to educate borrowers on how to avoid such deals.

The New York Times

So church leaders decided to step up efforts to discourage use of the term Mormon Church.

The New York Times

The government would step up efforts to sustain the growth, Mr. Singh said.

The New York Times

Obviously, all countries with influence must step up efforts to end to the Syrian war.

The Guardian

With cyberattacks soaring, corporations must step up efforts to protect their IT networks.

Harvard Business Review

The government will also step up efforts to attract customized investment and projects to strengthen the regional industrial ecosystem.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "step up efforts", clearly specify the goal or area where increased effort is needed for clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "step up efforts" without a clear objective. Always contextualize what efforts are being increased and why, otherwise the phrase may sound empty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "step up efforts" primarily functions as a verb phrase, often used to indicate the need for increased action or dedication toward achieving a specific goal. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "step up efforts" is a commonly used and grammatically sound verb phrase that calls for increased dedication or activity towards a specific objective. According to Ludwig, this phrase is appropriate across a range of formal and informal contexts, particularly in news, academic, and business settings. While perfectly acceptable, users can consider synonyms like "increase efforts", "boost efforts", or "intensify efforts" for nuanced communication. When using "step up efforts", clearly define the target of the increased effort for maximum clarity. Overall, "step up efforts" is a useful tool for prompting action and driving progress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increase efforts

Focuses on the action of increasing rather than the 'stepping up' aspect.

boost efforts

Emphasizes giving more power or energy to the existing efforts.

intensify efforts

Highlights making the efforts stronger or more concentrated.

enhance efforts

Suggests improving the quality or effectiveness of efforts.

expand efforts

Focuses on broadening the scope or range of the activities undertaken.

strengthen efforts

Indicates reinforcing or solidifying the existing efforts.

redouble efforts

Implies making efforts twice as great or intense.

scale up efforts

Highlights proportionally increasing efforts, often in a business context.

accelerate efforts

Focuses on increasing the speed or pace of the efforts.

amplify efforts

Suggests increasing the reach or impact of the efforts.

FAQs

How can I use "step up efforts" in a sentence?

You can use "step up efforts" to suggest increasing dedication or intensity toward a goal. For example, "The company needs to "step up efforts" to improve customer satisfaction."

What are some alternatives to "step up efforts"?

Alternatives include "increase efforts", "boost efforts", or "intensify efforts", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "step up efforts" or "increase efforts"?

"Step up efforts" and "increase efforts" are largely interchangeable, but "step up efforts" can imply a sense of urgency or immediate action.

When is it not appropriate to use "step up efforts"?

Avoid using "step up efforts" when the situation calls for decreasing or scaling back activity. It's also less suitable if the efforts are already at their maximum capacity.